Positive Lymph nodes

[Pricky1]

My mother just had her breast removed. It contained 2 tumors and she had 22 positive lymph nodes.  She is currently getting chemo & will get 5 weeks of radiation.  I cannot seem to find any information on life expectancy when so many lymph nodes are involved.  All the info I find is when there are NO lymph nodes involved.  Do you have any statistics, and has the Cleveland Clinic recently done any trials/studies on any additional meds she should get?

[Wheatie]

Do tumors move?  I have a friend who found a tumor on the top of her breast, and it moved under her arm.  She just had her surgery and they took out 26 lymph nodes and 11 were positive - what stage would this be?

[Wheatie]

Do tumors move?  I have a friend who found a tumor on the top of her breast, and it moved under her arm.  She just had her surgery and they took out 26 lymph nodes and 11 were positive - what stage would this be?

[CCF-RN,MSN-rf]

Dear pricky1:  Your mother has stage III breast cancer.  Five year survival (the way it is published - according to the American Joint Committee on Cancer Staging Manual)ranges from 42% to 56%, depending on whether she has stage IIIA or IIIB disease, there may be variation.  Keep in mind that statistics are averages.  In terms of chemotherapy, it depends on what she is getting.  Clinical trials are currently being done to examine the role of adjuvant Herceptin (in addition to chemotherapy) in Her-2 neu expressing tumors.  You do not mention whether your mother's tumor expresses her-2 neu.  Also, the recommended chemotherapy must take your mother's overall health into consideration.