Neck lump

[Wickey20]

My mom diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer in November 2023 with mets to right auxillary, right supraclavicular and liver mets.

First treatment was nab pacilitaxol for 4 momths chemo then took a pet scan then it was a good response with no supra clavicular node and all others were low.

Then treatment changed to palbociclib and letrozole for last 8 months and 2 months back took one pet scan and tat showed even more good response showing no liver mets and nothing big was there anywhere.

but now after 8 months my mom can feel a small lump in right neck while touching which same area initially a supraclavicular was there but nothng can seen in breast or armpits. Now doctor is suggesting one more pet scan. Will supraclavicular node can again come? In time of palbociclib treatment. Also if its there what will be the next treatment? Again chemo is required?

[urthmothr]

There are many variables in treatment, depending on the patient, the doctor, and the type of cancer.

my first diagnosis was aggressive HER+ DCIS with mastectomy and clear lymph nodes, no follow-up treatment for 2 years, then HER+ supraclavicular lymph node and 12 weeks Taxol chemotherapy with Herceptin and Perjeta, continuing H & P for 4 years now with no new mets. I don't know whether the cancer can recur in the same lymph node, but I do know that it is "sneaky" and can recur when you think you are "cured." I would say, follow the Doctor's instructions.

[13plus]

Yes it can recur anywhere, either a new place or where it was before. If it turns out that the cancer has returned in that spot then the doc will likely want to change the treatment plan but none of us can say what that might be as it depends on the details of your mum’s cancer.

If she as given iBrance I will guess the type she may have and think she has many more options ahead of her , some are not chemo so try not to worry. I’ve started my 6th line of treatment . It is only the second chemo I have had in that time, over 6 years

[HelenWi]

I agree with the other two replies— there are many options that don’t have to be chemo. One thing to add, however is that if you only have one met, zapping it with radiation can be an option while continuing with current drug, thereby extending the time until the next treatment.

[Bettybuckets]

I have one of the sub clavicles nodes… it was how they found my Mets… my dr chose to keep it not blast with rad and has used it as a canary in coal mine to tell if treatment is working… sometimes it shrinks and sometimes it’s large. Very lucky that hers disappeared but often it is just really tiny so be prepared for when it comes back. They can always zap it.

[Wickey20 in reply to Bettybuckets]

Yeah initially it was there and she could feel when she touched and then it disappeared for almost an year and now she can feel small bump or lump when she touch it but no pain. Tats y lil scared again. Do you feel it when u touch it? In supraclav node

[Hazelgreen]

Another possible treatment in pill form is ribociclib (also comes with letrozole).

[Discocat]

Hello

It's possible that the lumps are unrelated to cancer...could just be cysts?

I've just had this diagnosis.

I'm 3.5 yrs since diagnosis of MBC on ibrance, Letrozole, Zoladex and Zometa....found bumps in my neck/around thyroid area...above and to the right side.

I had blood work and ultrasound scan...

Was shown to be Hashimoto syndrome...which is something I've previously had diagnosed...and the lumps can reform and enlarge sometimes...other symptoms were extreme tiredness.