Hello.

i was diagnosed with stage 2 grade 2 triple positive breast cancer in October 2019. I have completed chemotherapy, (with minimal response) radiotherapy and I am now on tamoxifen daily and herceptin every 3 weeks.

at surgery I had clear margins and there was no evidence of the cancer in my lymph nodes. 

my cancer spanned an 8cm mass with 3 multi focal tumours, one cluster, it was quite large for the small size of my breast so I have had a full mastectomy on my right side with no reconstruction. I am currently NED (no evidence of disease)

my question is, can my cancer have spread without effecting my lymph nodes?

i have pain in my rib which is making it difficult to sleep on my side and I've also had what feels like sciatica trapped nerve in my lower back for about a month now.

i have an appointment with my oncologist tomorrow in which I'll bring all this up, I just wondered if anyone has any experience of their cancer spreading without going through their lymph nodes? Or if they had experienced similar pains which were not down to cancer spreading?