Lymph node involvement in armpit

Hi  and breathe....

Warm welcome to the breast group, a great place to find yourself at a tough time.

It is very common to find a few cancer cells in the sentinel node, their job is to trap bacteria and infectious cells that is why lymph nodes swell up with flu, mumps etc.

I assume from what you say the sentinel node was the only node from the few that were taken these were found in ?  A few cells won't show up in scans as they are so small they have to be clusters or actual tumours to show up, so be reassured this is nothing drastic. Even if larger clusters are found they would call you back for more nodes to be removed and tested. The few cells found would have been zapped by either radiotherapy or chemo if that treatment is recommended. There can be up to 30 nodes in a chain so only one being slightly affected can be considered a good call.

J had a similar few cells result from her SLNB (sentinel lymph node biopsy) taken during her mastectomy and it was considered nothing of significance - this was 8 years ago.

Hope this is of some help, G n' J

Hi

i had lymph node involvement from day 1 - I had a node clearance and 11 were found to contain cancer. This was classed as high risk for recurrence. I had chemo and radiotherapy - I was happy that I was throwing everything I could at it! A year and a half on, I am doing well.

thank you ever so much for your reply. I can’t say enough how having information like this can help my current mental state as the consultant at the time of the results was not the best in their delivery and gave me little information. From what I understand they only took the sentinel node and no others which I find strange as surely it would be best practice to have checked surrounding nodes to check for further spread. I’ve convinced myself that I’m completely riddled with cancer and every pain I am having is linked. Luckily I am seeing another consultant this week and hoping to find out more. Xxx

Hi , I cant help re why only taken sentinel node as I dont know the rationale behind deciding this or full clearance. What I can tell you is that I had a positive lymph node at biopsy and my surgeon will be doing full clearance and skin sparing mastectomy.  My scans have happily not shown any spread elsewhere.Having chemotherapy first them radiotherapy, hormones and herceptin after. Now the important bit! He says that with luck a total cure is possible even with it in my lymph node. Obviously I'd be happen if it wasn't but I'm trying to stay positive and keep everything crossed. So, try and stay positive, keep posting ,lots of support on here and speak to your breast nurse if your really not coping xxxx

Thank you, now I guess the hard decision, as to whether I have full node clearance surgery or just radiotherapy to the armpit. I will be starting chemo in a few weeks but the uncertainty as to whether it’s still in my nodes is making me lean more towards full node clearance. Of course worried about side effects of full clearance, so much to take in. So pleased I’ve found this forum as helps to talk to others in a similar situation. Really Appreciate people taking the time to respond. Xxx

I had a full clearance planned with my surgery at beginning December.  After neo chemo my visible node had disappeared along with my tumour so my surgeon agreed to a L1 clearance. My histology showed 2/9 showing cancer cells with possible extra capsular, my surgeon has now recommended a clearance. We discussed radio as an alternative as I will need this to my chest wall & to zap the capsular anyway, but ultimately I just want rid. I am back in at the end of January.

Good luck with whatever you decide xx 

My ultrasound seemed to show no nodal spread,  but they checked the two sentinel nodes and one had 6mm, the other clear. I couldn't have treatment until all my staging scans were checked (standard practice with lymph node involvement) so I had  Chest CT, body CT with contrast,  nuclear full body bone scan and an MRI scam which were all clear. I then had all three levels of my axillary nodes removed and they were totally clear:)  It is a worrying time waiting,  but the fact that they're not rushing tests or surgery suggests that they're not worried by what they've found.  You're possibly going to be offered/ given chemo as a result,  but it depends on the pathology (size,  grade,  type,  LVI present of not etc.)

About 20% of women with "clear" nodes have some deposit found in their sentinels, and it is a shock! It isn't the end of the world though:)

Good luck!! X

Morning

Have they told you anything regarding having further lymph node surgery ?

As the nodes are in 3 levels - This image shows the areas the levels are found in.

G n' J

Thank you, some of this terminology I didn’t understand but have checked and now I understand more so will help with questions I have about my histology. I agree you just want to know as much as possible that it’s gone from your body. Wishing you all the best daisyjake xxx

This is the first time I’ve heard of the different levels. I have been given fairy limited information and have not even seen an oncologist yet. The consultant that delivered the results just said I had 3 choices, to have clearance surgery, just radiotherapy to the armpit or to enter into a trial where I’ll be put into a random bucket of either treatment or no treatment to the nodes as the US now no longer treat the nodes and the U.K. want to adopt something similar but of course require further studies to support this. 

Thank you xxx