Lymph Node Clearance question

Hi I think it’s because tiny cancer cells can only be seen under a microscope, so MRI and CT may not pick them up, so they remove them all to make sure. I had 4 removed with sentinel node biopsy and 2 had cancer cells, largest deposit 5mm but when I had ultrasound they showed up clear. I read one lady’s post and she had 3/4 positive and when she had auxiliary clearance she had cancer in the other nodes after the sentinel nodes that were removed, so I think they are just being thorough.

Also everyone has a different amount of lymph nodes so the ladies that said they had 9, 10 or 12 removed may have only had that many anyway.

But it’s still worth asking your consultant why they all have to be removed.

Diane

x

Hi di54, 

sorry to butt in to the conversation. 
my mum just had her results and she has two sentinel nodes positive out of the 6. I’m really worried. She has been told to wait a few more weeks for precise results before chemo/node clearance is decided. Can I kindly ask if you had any treatment and how long you had to wait for treatment after having the nodes removed

Hi I haven’t had node clearance yet, I was told 3 weeks ago but due to having lobular cancer I need an MRI scan first to make sure it’s not in the other breast, they wanted to do the clearance first but I wanted the MRI because I don’t want to be told after that I need more surgery. I’m also having chemotherapy as it’s HER2 positive and then radiotherapy, waiting for a date for clearance. I think it’s about 6 weeks after surgery that you start chemo but I suppose you have to be totally healed and well by then. 

Diane x

Hi Di54

i was initially told all my lymph nodes “looked” fine but after my mastectomy and taking 3 lymph nodes, 2 out of 3 were cancerous.  So I had to have clearance.  After that 7 out of 14 in total were cancerous.  As soon as I was well enough I started chemo.  EC first then Pacitixtol I have 4 weeks of chemo left then start radiotherapy!  Hope this helps. Best wishes Jan x

Hi Shaz61 

I had a total clearance on one side I didn't have a biopsy on them before hand . The results showed one had microscope cancer  cells in it so maybe the clearance was not strictly necessary but at the time I was 3 hours in to a bilateral mastectomy. The clearance put two hours on the surgery and surgeon had not started on my other breast until 5 hours in . 7 hours in total . I have not had any problems yet it was 6 weeks ago so fingers crossed it stays like this. But I'm prepared . I thanked my surgeon as she was trying to save my life so I'm happy what will be will be . If you have had a biopsy on nodes before hand then it may a little different to make a decision best wishes 

Jayne 

Thank you for your reply, I wish you all the best di54. How soon after did you start Chemo?

Hi jan, may I ask how long after the sentinel node biopsy you had the clearance surgery?  And how long the results came to you? 

my mums in the same boat she had her surgery 3 weeks ago, but been told to wait another few weeks till we get some more information. Initially they said it was her2 negative when they did core biopsy so not sure why now they are saying we have to wait for that result 

Hi I haven’t started chemotherapy yet, mine was HER2 negative at biopsy but they only test a tiny area with a biopsy, when they have removed the lump they have more to test and cancer doesn’t grow all at the same rate, so that’s why they have to test it all of it because it could be different from the biopsy. 

Thank you di54, it’s just so nerve racking to wait