Radiation vs. Lymph Node Disection

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Kimberlyry
Kimberlyry Member Posts: 10
in Breast Cancer #1
I'm 48 years old

I have Stage IIA, ER+ 90% and PR+ 50% Her2 neg breast cancer with initial tumor just under 2cm

lymph node under arm blew up two days after breast biopsy (anyone else experience that?)

the node was then biopsied and was positive

I did 4 rounds of AC and 4 of Taxol

mammogram and MRI can no longer detect the tumor

I am having bi-lateral mastectomy in two weeks (not interested in lumpectomy)

I DO NOT want the lymph node dissection and possible lymphadema

anyone had radiation INSTEAD?

I'm seriously considering having RT and no ALND

anyone else done that???

thanks so much

prayers for everyone tonight....goodnight..must sleep...must stop reading....

Comments

  • midnight10
    midnight10 Member Posts: 74
    #2
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    Did both
    My drs didn't even say not doing radiation was an option-it was put as what I would do after the same chemo you had, bi-lateral and lymph nodes out.
  • Margot Greer
    Margot Greer Member Posts: 9
    #3
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    Hi Kimberly,
    im having the
    Hi Kimberly,
    im having the exact same issue. Im also due for surgery in about 3 weeks and I have Triple negative stage 2 breast cancer. My tumor is now undetectable. i really don't want to have to deal with the possible lymphodema either. Im due to see my surgical oncologist tomorrow, and i will definitely ask and let you know what her opinion of that is. i know everyones situation is different but it will at least give us some idea if thats ever ben an option for anyone. good luck darling :)
  • joannstar
    joannstar Member Posts: 403 Member
    #4
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    Here is an article about
    lymph node removal and survival rates...heard news about this something last week I think.

    http://www.nctimes.com/lifestyles/health-med-fit/article_15f90330-2e4e-548c-89a8-98d81a4200c5.html

    My cancer was Stage, 1C triple negative and had a lumpectomy with 4 nodes removed--none were positive.

    Perhaps you need a second opinion?

    Good luck.
    JoAnn
  • missrenee
    missrenee Member Posts: 2,136 Member
    #5
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    joannstar said:

    Here is an article about
    lymph node removal and survival rates...heard news about this something last week I think.

    http://www.nctimes.com/lifestyles/health-med-fit/article_15f90330-2e4e-548c-89a8-98d81a4200c5.html

    My cancer was Stage, 1C triple negative and had a lumpectomy with 4 nodes removed--none were positive.

    Perhaps you need a second opinion?

    Good luck.
    JoAnn

    I understand your concern--however
    I had a positive sentinel node at the time of surgery--so my surgeon did an axillary node dissection at that time. Out of 23 lymph nodes removed, 10 were positive. I have not regretted the removal of those nodes one bit even though I do have a few issues with lymphedema (not as bad as some others). For me, I'm glad they are out. Radiation was just extra insurance--another weapon in the arsenal.

    I have some swelling--some days--in the breast that had the lumpectomy, and some swelling--again, some days--down my rib cage on that side. I've been treated by a certified lymphedema therapist. I have a sleeve and glove that I wear only when I fly and a Flexi-Touch machine that I use occasionally. All in all, I will gladly deal with this knowing that those cancerous lymph nodes have been removed from my body.

    This is a very individual decision--but try to get all the information you can even if it means getting a 2nd or 3rd opinion. Everyone is different, not everyone gets lymphedema. And, there are varying degrees of lymphedema and good treatments out there if you do.

    Good luck,
    Hugs, Renee
  • mollyz
    mollyz Member Posts: 756 Member
    #6
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    missrenee said:

    I understand your concern--however
    I had a positive sentinel node at the time of surgery--so my surgeon did an axillary node dissection at that time. Out of 23 lymph nodes removed, 10 were positive. I have not regretted the removal of those nodes one bit even though I do have a few issues with lymphedema (not as bad as some others). For me, I'm glad they are out. Radiation was just extra insurance--another weapon in the arsenal.

    I have some swelling--some days--in the breast that had the lumpectomy, and some swelling--again, some days--down my rib cage on that side. I've been treated by a certified lymphedema therapist. I have a sleeve and glove that I wear only when I fly and a Flexi-Touch machine that I use occasionally. All in all, I will gladly deal with this knowing that those cancerous lymph nodes have been removed from my body.

    This is a very individual decision--but try to get all the information you can even if it means getting a 2nd or 3rd opinion. Everyone is different, not everyone gets lymphedema. And, there are varying degrees of lymphedema and good treatments out there if you do.

    Good luck,
    Hugs, Renee

    radiation
    I think most Dr's recommend radiation if there lymph nodes are involved,please get more Dr's opinions before you decide,I've done 6 treatments of radiation so far I had 16 lymph nodes removed and 8 were positive if it will kill any stray cells then bring it on. hang in there,many hugs to you MOLLYZ
  • dyaneb123
    dyaneb123 Member Posts: 950
    #7
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    mollyz said:

    radiation
    I think most Dr's recommend radiation if there lymph nodes are involved,please get more Dr's opinions before you decide,I've done 6 treatments of radiation so far I had 16 lymph nodes removed and 8 were positive if it will kill any stray cells then bring it on. hang in there,many hugs to you MOLLYZ

    Yeah, I only had one
    Yeah, I only had one node(sentinel) positive , but still had to do chemo and radiation. I have a little numbness in my upper arm , but nothing serious.
  • Kimberlyry
    Kimberlyry Member Posts: 10
    #8
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    Margot Greer said:

    Hi Kimberly,
    im having the
    Hi Kimberly,
    im having the exact same issue. Im also due for surgery in about 3 weeks and I have Triple negative stage 2 breast cancer. My tumor is now undetectable. i really don't want to have to deal with the possible lymphodema either. Im due to see my surgical oncologist tomorrow, and i will definitely ask and let you know what her opinion of that is. i know everyones situation is different but it will at least give us some idea if thats ever ben an option for anyone. good luck darling :)

    Thanks so much. Just wanted
    Thanks so much. Just wanted to wish you all the best too. Dr. today said they need to come out. I get it. She said radiation can have other effects that aren't so great either. My chances of lymphadema are slim so I will count on that.
    thanks agai!!!
  • Kimberlyry
    Kimberlyry Member Posts: 10
    #9
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    THANK YOU ALL!!
    Thanks so much for sharing your comments. I saw the RO today. The nodes need to come out. Still visible on my MRI and the one that was positive is still causing me pain. I will feel better knowing the number of nodes taken and how many were positive. Where I am treated - UCSF - the rule is 1-2 nodes NO radiation 3 nodes - borderline - my call. 4 or more nodes - YES radiation. I have read these same standards in other studies. I feel better. Will be much better after surgery report shows 1 node! - my prayer out to the universe.....

    hugs to all of you....thx
  • midnight10
    midnight10 Member Posts: 74
    #10
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    Kimberlyry said:

    THANK YOU ALL!!
    Thanks so much for sharing your comments. I saw the RO today. The nodes need to come out. Still visible on my MRI and the one that was positive is still causing me pain. I will feel better knowing the number of nodes taken and how many were positive. Where I am treated - UCSF - the rule is 1-2 nodes NO radiation 3 nodes - borderline - my call. 4 or more nodes - YES radiation. I have read these same standards in other studies. I feel better. Will be much better after surgery report shows 1 node! - my prayer out to the universe.....

    hugs to all of you....thx

    Glad you got the information
    Glad you got the information you needed/wanted. I should have mentioned in my earlier post I was/am? Triple Neg Stage 2 Grade 3 tumors 7 or 15 nodes removed were positive.
    Sending prayers your way.
  • susie09
    susie09 Member Posts: 2,930
    #11
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    midnight10 said:

    Did both
    My drs didn't even say not doing radiation was an option-it was put as what I would do after the same chemo you had, bi-lateral and lymph nodes out.

    I had a lumpectomy, so, rads
    I had a lumpectomy, so, rads were the 2nd part of my treatment. I am glad I did rads as they killed any stray cancer cells left behind.

    Good luck!
  • Angie2U
    Angie2U Member Posts: 2,991
    #12
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    mollyz said:

    radiation
    I think most Dr's recommend radiation if there lymph nodes are involved,please get more Dr's opinions before you decide,I've done 6 treatments of radiation so far I had 16 lymph nodes removed and 8 were positive if it will kill any stray cells then bring it on. hang in there,many hugs to you MOLLYZ

    Chemo is usually recommended
    Chemo is usually recommended if your nodes are positive and some recommend rads too. If you don't feel right about your doctor, please get a 2nd opinion. My node was clear, so, I just had rads, no chemo.


    Hugs, Angie
  • disneyfan2008
    disneyfan2008 Member Posts: 6,583 Member
    #13
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    lumpect. & nodes
    followed by 8 wks radiation!
  • DianeBC
    DianeBC Member Posts: 3,881 Member
    #14
    Options
    joannstar said:

    Here is an article about
    lymph node removal and survival rates...heard news about this something last week I think.

    http://www.nctimes.com/lifestyles/health-med-fit/article_15f90330-2e4e-548c-89a8-98d81a4200c5.html

    My cancer was Stage, 1C triple negative and had a lumpectomy with 4 nodes removed--none were positive.

    Perhaps you need a second opinion?

    Good luck.
    JoAnn

    I had a lumpectomy with the
    I had a lumpectomy with the sentinel node removed and it was clean. I then had radiation treatments. Everything we do is our decision and our decision alone. Wishing you good luck!


    Hugs, Diane

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