Decissions

Hi Craftydancer welcome to the forum and sorry to hear your news.

I am not aware that having lymph nodes removed, that have cancerous cells present, was a choice. Did they tell you thta it was  a choice or not?

 What has happened with the first surgery and having to have more is not unheard of and can and does happen. Should they be unable to get clear margins with the next surgery then they will speak to you again about ongoing treatment. 

Best wishes for now. xxxx

Hi, I had 3 out of 4 nodes with cancer and was offered either a clearance after chemo or further radiotherapy to include the collar bone and armpit. As I was going to have rads any way I opted for that as the risk of lymphodema was half that of surgery. My skin is fine, I had very little problems and have been away and in sun since with no adverse effects. 

Hi sorry to hear that you are due back in for more surgery. That also happened to me after mastectomy as 3 nodes were found to be positive. I wasn't given a choice re. node clearance, I was just informed that it needed to happen quickly. I know some ladies are given the option of radiotherapy rather than a clearance though. I can only speak from personal experience but re. node clearance I would say it was more painful afterwards than my mastectomy was, and has left more numbness, but it was not too bad. I have been fortunate not to get lymphodema (at present anyway) but I did get cording and this has persisted and been quite severe (down to my elbow and then also down my ribs as far as my waist. My ANC was back in September and the cording has improved but is still there. I do have a very good range of movement though. I think the cording and lymphodema risk persist and require ongoing massage and exercises. Having said all this, if they had offered me a choice, I think I would have still gone for a node clearance.

Once all the nodes are removed, you do need to be a bit careful if you cut your arm or get any insect bites in case of an infection which those lymph nodes would ordinarily have dealt with. 

Hope that helps a bit and best of luck with your treatment. 

Thank you picturethis2

Hi thank you for the reply yes I saw my surgeon Friday and she said to think about it and ask questions with the doctor tomorrow when I speak to him about radiotherapy 

Xxx