not sure what to think
my follow-up with my medical oncologist is on monday, october 4. i also meet with the radiation oncologist that same day.
trying not to overthink this - and be calm about everything but it seems to me that 16 out 20 nodes indicating cancer cannot be a good thing.
any advice or personal experience you care to share?
thanks, heidi
Comments
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Don't panic...Jean 0609 said:Hi Heidi,
Glad to hear that they removed the drains. However, sorry about the nodes. Unfortunately, I can't share any advise about positive nodes. I know some of our sisters here will be able to help you. Continuing to send prayers your way. Hugs, Jean
Your nodes were doing their job of catching the cancer cells. The chemo will hopefully kill off any cells that may have escaped. If you are hormone positive, they will also give you 5 year treatment designed to starve the cells. Of course it is better to be node negative but many women who are node positive survive with treatment. Best advise is to take this journey one step at a time. Hugs.
Roseann0 -
already spent almost 8 months in chemo prior to surgeryroseann4 said:Don't panic...
Your nodes were doing their job of catching the cancer cells. The chemo will hopefully kill off any cells that may have escaped. If you are hormone positive, they will also give you 5 year treatment designed to starve the cells. Of course it is better to be node negative but many women who are node positive survive with treatment. Best advise is to take this journey one step at a time. Hugs.
Roseann
and am triple negative, so no five year treatment options. have inflammatory breast cancer - protocol is different with this type.0 -
IBC is 'different'
Sounds good to me considering it's IBC. For me, A/C did shrink and get good margins it did not get rid of the cancer in breast tissue (or nodes). My tumor was still quite large and there were 17 pos. nodes. Oct 21st will be a year since surgery and am doing great. Sept 30 I saw both my chemo and rad Drs. Chemo Dr wants to see me in 6 mths and rads Dr doesn't want to see me anymore (unless God forbid - needed). I see surgeon Oct 18th and my PA sometime (have to look it up - I "furgit" the date) in Oct for my 'annual well woman' appointment.
Susan0 -
thanks, susanRague said:IBC is 'different'
Sounds good to me considering it's IBC. For me, A/C did shrink and get good margins it did not get rid of the cancer in breast tissue (or nodes). My tumor was still quite large and there were 17 pos. nodes. Oct 21st will be a year since surgery and am doing great. Sept 30 I saw both my chemo and rad Drs. Chemo Dr wants to see me in 6 mths and rads Dr doesn't want to see me anymore (unless God forbid - needed). I see surgeon Oct 18th and my PA sometime (have to look it up - I "furgit" the date) in Oct for my 'annual well woman' appointment.
Susan
you made me feel a bit better about all of this - that's why this board is so important!0 -
OOPSRague said:IBC is 'different'
Sounds good to me considering it's IBC. For me, A/C did shrink and get good margins it did not get rid of the cancer in breast tissue (or nodes). My tumor was still quite large and there were 17 pos. nodes. Oct 21st will be a year since surgery and am doing great. Sept 30 I saw both my chemo and rad Drs. Chemo Dr wants to see me in 6 mths and rads Dr doesn't want to see me anymore (unless God forbid - needed). I see surgeon Oct 18th and my PA sometime (have to look it up - I "furgit" the date) in Oct for my 'annual well woman' appointment.
Susan
It's not Sept 30 yet - it was Aug 30 I saw Dr. T and Dr. P. (If I knew how to add 'smilies' there woul be a BIG red face one here)0 -
heidiheidijez said:thanks, susan
you made me feel a bit better about all of this - that's why this board is so important!
Happy to hear that your recovery from surgery is moving forward. Sorry to hear about the lymph nodes. With this development, I was wondering if they are planning an MRI or scan to follow up?
Best wishes and stay positive. Marsha0 -
I'll keep you in my thoughts on the fourth
I'm also TN and IBC, but not as far on the journey. I just had the 2nd chemo.
What tests did you have prior to chemo? I had a bone scan, a MUGA, and an MRI all to confirm the cancer was contained in the breast and the lymph nodes prior to chemo. (I know I'll have many lymph nodes involved also, there's swelling about the size of a baseball in my left armpit.)
If you haven't had any of those tests, request them. You need the reassurance that the chemo has done it's job and "contained" the cancer. If you've had some of these tests and there was no cancer present before chemo, trust that those daily battles you fought for eight months and the poison chemo did what it was supposed to do.
It seems like this another of those tough times waiting for information. From what I've read in your posts you are a strong warrior, and you are strong enough for this too.
Sending you lots of positive thoughts!
Linda0 -
Hi Heidi
I dont really know
Hi Heidi
I dont really know anything about IBC since it is somewhat different but i just wanted to let ya know im glad your thru with the mastectomy and got the drains out and im sorry to hear about the nodes but like someone else said your nodes did their job. Keep us updated when you talk with your doc's.0 -
Roseann makes a good point
I wish it would have been zero of 20 lymphnodes. But four nodes *did* not show signs of malignant cells. As Roseann points out, it would appear like your lymphatic system has held the cancer at bay. You're right that 16/20 is overall not a good thing, but even among the bad, there is hope... Rague is alive and well and kicking &@$^@&$@$& a year after *her* surgery and she had even more positive nodes than you did. We all look forward to hearing you say the same thing this time next year!
Love and prayers,
Moopy and Joe0 -
Hope you continue to feelheidijez said:thanks, susan
you made me feel a bit better about all of this - that's why this board is so important!
Hope you continue to feel more encouraged and optimistic, Heidi. Rague and Roseanne's posts show that you have every reason to keep your spirits up. Of course, no nodes or fewer nodes are best, but clear nodes are no guarantee--not a lot of guarantees in life or cancer. The key thing is that you are fighting this battle, and you're doing a great job, despite different obstacles you've faced along the way.0 -
I had 18/20 nodes positive.
I had 18/20 nodes positive. 5.3cm tumor. IDC stage3c. One year and 3 months clear. Had chemo and rads. Just ordered me a t-shirt from cafepress that says "remission rocks". How's that for being cocky?
Question for you, no breast tumor, so all cancer cells in nodes are breast cancer cells?
Keeping you and all the sistas in my prayers. Good luck on the 4th. I have onc appt on wed. Hope he releases me to see him every 6 mon instead of every 3. Katz0 -
mark the calendar for nextKatz77 said:I had 18/20 nodes positive.
I had 18/20 nodes positive. 5.3cm tumor. IDC stage3c. One year and 3 months clear. Had chemo and rads. Just ordered me a t-shirt from cafepress that says "remission rocks". How's that for being cocky?
Question for you, no breast tumor, so all cancer cells in nodes are breast cancer cells?
Keeping you and all the sistas in my prayers. Good luck on the 4th. I have onc appt on wed. Hope he releases me to see him every 6 mon instead of every 3. Katz
mark the calendar for next year!!! We are with you heidi! My thing has always been ya just dont know what to think because we dont know. so think positively. You have an aggressive breast cancer, so they need to treat it aggressively. the chemo was effective because it killed the cancer in the breast. they removed the cancer in the nodes, so you may need further treatment to make sure no liitle nasty guys got out. because cancer can be persistent. so pathology determines the treatment. many women with positive nodes do well and so can you !0 -
Glad you got your drains out!!
That must be a relief.. Sorry to hear about the nodes though. Keep us posted on your journey. You remain in my prayers and thoughts as always. Kay0
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