Lumpectomy/nodes follow up treatment

FormerMember over 4 years ago

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471 subscribers
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Hi, I’m new.
Just for background, my husband died of bowel cancer after a long battle. It was discovered late and a really hard journey. I’m hoping my journey will be easier. I’m 58 and live alone.

I ignored my lump quite a while because I have lumpy breasts and I’d had a benign lump checked out there many years ago. I decided to go to doc when i got some pain. I found the day when i first went for tests/scans really hard, all on my own due to Covid, i was there for hours, and at the end they said i had early stages 2/3cm tumour, later confirmed as hormonal receptive. My op was May 4th and a good experience. Yesterday, at the follow up they said sentinel lymph node was positive for cancer and the second node abnormal looking. I’m now deciding whether to join trials, then I’ll get a plan after that. I’m a bit down because they kept saying the lymph nodes were very unlikely to be affected but they were. Now they’re saying it’s unlikely to spread further, but that doesn’t convince me any more. I wonder what you people think. X

FormerMember over 4 years ago

Hello

So sorry to hear of your recent experience but diagnosis sounds similar to mine. I too was diagnosed with stage 2, 23mm, grade 2 invasive ductal breast cancer, oestrogen positive, HER negative. I also underwent lumpectomy and sentinel node biopsy, one of 2 lymph nodes removed was positive for cancer. I also received Oncotype DX test as 51 at diagnosis but score 17 which is low so decision made to proceed with radiotherapy

When I met with Oncologist we discussed fast forward 5 sessions of radiotherapy to breast and underarm yet I was concerned this may not capture all cells in lymph nodes, there is a clinical trial where patients are randomised to receive these 5 sessions or alternatively 15 sessions which treats nodes up to shoulder. In the end I asked for 15 to cover all nodes up to subclavian and that’s what I received.

Other clinical trials ongoing with regards to diet, exercise in early breast cancer and also if aspirin may lower recurrence rates.

Lots to consider best of luck xx

Daisy53 over 4 years ago

Hi DizzyLady

Sorry to hear about your diagnosis. Did you have a CT And Bone Scan to make sure that the Cancer hasn’t spread? If not I’d suggest that you ask for them to be done just to set your mind at rest.

Hope your treatment goes well.

Best wishes

Daisy53

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Lumpectomy/nodes follow up treatment