Lymph nodes treatment

Hi, my surgeon advised before surgery that he would be removing 2-3 lymph nodes which would be sent to lab, at this point no lymph node involvement was seen on ultrasound scan. One lymph node ended up with a micromet at 2.5mm positive after lab tests so now I’m having radiotherapy to lymph nodes as well as breast and under arm. I would speak to your breast nurse initially then surgeon and explain your concerns, you can always seek as 2nd opinion whether NHS or not

Take care and keep us updated 

xx

You have 3 levels of lymph nodes in the shoulder area and they usually only remove levels 1 and 2, leaving the ones above your collarbone so you are not left without any lymph nodes on the affected arm.  Talk to your surgeon about your concerns and he will probably be able to set your mind at rest.

Hi  my initial ultrasound etc showed my lymph nodes as clear but during my mastectomy they removed 3 for testing which unfortunately showed cancer in all 3. I was initially planning for radiotherapy after my op but am now halfway through chemo, then will have all lymph nodes removed, then radiotherapy.

I wasnt given the option of having all nodes removed during my initial operation, and I suppose there are pros and cons of all options and each patient is treated individually. I would say to ask as many questions as you need to, make sure you're fully informed as I don't think I was right at the start of my journey.

Good luck with your treatment x

Hi Jen84 can I ask your diagnosis, pls quite worried me my lymph nodes showed as healthy on my scan, does this mean the test may be wrong. Did you have an mri pls xx

Hi it's good news they showed as healthy on the scan but until one or more are removed to be tested your doctors can not be sure.  

Mine showed as healthy too but the surgeon removed 4 anyway and fortunately all four were clear.  I also felt more confident that the cancer was gone by having the nodes removed and tested as that seems the best way to be sure.

Not everything shows up on images but it's definitely a good sign so far.

Breast cancer is very treatable these days so whatever happens your team will come up with the right plan for you.

Wishing you all the best with your treatment x

Hi thank you was stage and grade was yours.  He advised me my tumour is small and I have chosen masectomy with reconstruction so he advised an mri was not necessary only if I chose lumpectomy. I cannot feel it mine  is grade 2, from enhanced mammogram he said about 1cm, and  like I said scan on nodes on 18.5.21 was clear. I am awaiting appointment with plastics for surgery xx

Hi Shaz52 you can read my story by clicking on my name.  Mine was also grade 2 but about 2cm and hormone positive.  So mine was larger than yours.  I had a lumpectomy in January, then 5 days radiotherapy and now I am taking tamoxifen for 5 years.  

Seems like chances of no spread are as good as they can be at this stage and once you have surgery and you know it's out you will feel a lot better. x

Thank you my bcn informed my details have been forwarded to plastics on Wednesday, so hopefully not to long now do you think and surgery can be planned. Consultant advised mri no necessary because having mastectomy with reconstruction and advised small and I can't feel it. My was diagnosed with a vacuum biopsy, so do they take more tissue, so hoping it's small  sending hugs xx

Hi Shaz52, it sounds like you still have a lot of questions for your team.  I would make a list of all your questions and then ask them everything you need to know.  Everyone is different and they will come up with a treatment plan that is best suited to you.  I had a lumpectomy so I don't know what the process is for a mastectomy. I think they will only definitely know the size once they operate.  

I know waiting to see if they get it all out is difficult but unfortunately there is nothing you can do, you just have to wait.  What they have told you so far seems promising so it's very possible that it will be small with no spread.  Even if it's bigger than they think so long as they remove it all it shouldn't matter.

Hopefully you get your surgery date soon, how quickly varies from hospital to hospital.  Maybe if you ask them they can give you a rough idea.

Sending hugs back xx

I know my plan is surgery first masectomy with reconstruction, its hormone positive but awaiting her, advised I do not need an mri because having  mastectomy, its just the waiting to hear off plastics hope won't be to long xxx