Lymphovascular Invasion

Hi Vicki, I have lymphovascular invasion too and it shook me up a little even though I was expecting it because my lymph nodes were involved. I would ask your oncologist what it means for you and your cancer.  Have you had an oncotype on your cancer?   I am sure there is a question/ thread somewhere in the breast cancer history on LVI. My LVI has not changed my treatment at all as far as I can tell.  I had surgery, EC then P for chemo (2 weekly for 16 weeks) and then 15 sessions of radiotherapy. Now on tamoxifen and bisphosphonates. xx

Hi Zephyr thank you for your response. Yes I will be asking my oncologist about this and what it means to my cancer. Suppose I shouldn't have looked it up as it's worried me. And the fact it's high grade. I'm not sure what is meant by oncotype. Thanks again for your response and hope your treatment is going well and you're well to. Xx

An oncotype is a genetic test. Its often sent to america and is a type of genetic test. It takes about 4 weeks to come back, sometimes a bit more. Depending on the genes that are active in your cancer, your cancer gets a recurrence risk rating - its just a number. i think below about 19 is low risk, but am not absolutely sure on the number cut offs (someone else is likely to write if its different). If recurrence risk is low then chemo wouldn't be offered, and if higher, it would be. Does that make sense?

I know it is hard, but try not to worry too much - i think i drove myself a bit crazy worrying and my treatment hasn't had to change one bit as a result of LVI. My tumour was also grade 3, which is good and bad - the big plus is that if cells are dividing faster they tend to be more responsive to the chemo. I also found I was very happy to have chemo knowing it was grade 3 and more likely to respond to it and that I had a good additional survival advantage as a result of signing up for it. 

I have finished chemo and radiotherapy (just). I am starting to feel more myself, though I get tired easily. It is amazing how treatment has flown by and chemo is now behind me. Although treatment had its challenges, it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. 

Thinking of you xx

Hi Zephyr thanks again for your reply. I have already had chemo and like you said it was manageable. Just waiting to see oncologist on 7th to see when radiotherapy starts and I have to have 14 cycles kadcyla. So like you my treatment may not change. It was just a bit of a shock seeing that in writing. Glad you're feeling good and you're feeling more like yourself. Take care and thanks again for taking the time to reply. Xx