Lymph node involvement post chemo

Hiya ,

I had my dx in Nov 2016 with a 53mm tumour of lobular bc. 14 out of 18 lymph nodes were infected despite being told during the US that the dr did not think there was any lymph node involvement - so it was quite a shock! I had chemo after surgery. I have always believed that lobular bc is a slow growing cancer- it was a community champ that said that when I first started posting. 

A study from 2016 in the Netherlands found that lobular bc is less responsive to neo adjuvant chemo than ductal bc - so any response should be considered a good thing.  (Invasive lobular carcinoma is known to be less responsive to NAC. The reported proportions of ILC patients with a pathologic complete response (pCR) range from 1 to 3 % compared with 9 to 15 % of IDC patients.)

So they have carried out chemo to reduce the tumour, it has had some response. The surgery has then removed all the cancer in the nodes. You are now cancer free! This is good news!

The radiotherapy and hormone treatment will then reduce the possibility of recurrence. Letrozole has shown to have a better response than tamoxifen for cases of lobular bc, but you will need to be post menopause. I wasn't so I had my ovaries removed.

I have been on this site now for nearly 3 years and I have seen many ladies with high lymph node involvement, sue G for one, and she was dx in 2008. I have tagged her but I am not sure she is on here that often nowadays. But it not a death sentence.

Just to let you know, I am doing great. I am back working full time. I regularly go to the gym. I have no noticeable side effects from the hormone tablets - I did when I first started taking them, it can take a while for your body to get used to them. And I loved my post chemo hair, it came back lovely and curly! Sadly the curls are just about dropping out now.

Worrying and being upset will not change any outcome. 

Hmm looks like a decent day here, a little bit of sun but not too much. Hope you have some sunshine where you are - get out and enjoy it!

Cwtches, 

Gay xxx

Hi,

i do not have the same diagnosis as you. I have IDC. i just wanted to say that this whole thing IS very emotional. I have had and do have very emotional days. It sound like a cliche but it is an emotional rollercoaster. 

For me, i have spoken to my BCN and am going to see a counsellor. I read this forum and an american one, breast cancer then a dot then org. I have phoned the helpline on the breast cancer care website; they were brilliant 

I try to do one day at a time. I have a good cry if i need it. 

I do what i have to to get through each day. I try to enjoy the little things. 

Lots of hugs xxxx

Hiya,

Macmillan also have a helpline  0808 808 00 00. This used to appear at the bottom of the page but it seems to have vanished!

Cwtches,

Gay xxx

Hi Wombat.23,

thank you so much. This is incredibly helpful and hopeful so I am feeling much more positive. Thank you.

Thank you Missybb,

i sometimes think I am going mad with the emotional rollercoaster. Thank you for your encouragement and words of wisdom. I don’t feel quite so alone now. Thank you Xxxx

Wombat , just wanted to say so pleased you are doing so well  x