Recurrence to lymph nodes only

Barneygirl
Barneygirl Member Posts: 90
in Ovarian Cancer #1
I just found out I am having a recurrence for the 2nd time. First time was 2 years after treatment and this time after 5 years. It is in several lymph nodes in my chest and neck. Will need to go back on chemo. I had taxol/carbo both times and wonder if it will be used again?? Anyone else have mets to lymph nodes only?

Comments

  • lindaprocopio
    lindaprocopio Member Posts: 1,980 Member
    #2
    My 1st recurrence was to lymph nodes only.
    My 1st recurrence was to a lymph node cluster in my arm pit and to a para-aortic lymph node near my spine and kidneys. I was given weekly dense dose chemo that shot those nodes down to nothing in 10 weeks, buying me another short remission.

    Those same lymph nodes have lit up off and on on various PET scans ever since (almost 2 years), and on my last scan they were not at all enlarged and have never bothered me at all. Unfortunately, I have since developed tumors on my liver, but we were able to ignore the cancerous lymph nodes for 4 months this spring and summer so that I could do radioembolism of my liver, and the nodes stayed stable. I did take (& am still taking) tamoxifen/megace pills that may have contributed to the stable lymph nodes, a real surprise since I am ER-, PR-.
  • carolenk
    carolenk Member Posts: 907 Member
    #3
    lindaprocopio said:

    My 1st recurrence was to lymph nodes only.
    My 1st recurrence was to a lymph node cluster in my arm pit and to a para-aortic lymph node near my spine and kidneys. I was given weekly dense dose chemo that shot those nodes down to nothing in 10 weeks, buying me another short remission.

    Those same lymph nodes have lit up off and on on various PET scans ever since (almost 2 years), and on my last scan they were not at all enlarged and have never bothered me at all. Unfortunately, I have since developed tumors on my liver, but we were able to ignore the cancerous lymph nodes for 4 months this spring and summer so that I could do radioembolism of my liver, and the nodes stayed stable. I did take (& am still taking) tamoxifen/megace pills that may have contributed to the stable lymph nodes, a real surprise since I am ER-, PR-.

    Thank them nodes
    Did you ever think, Barneygirl, that your lymph nodes caught the malignant cells and are keeping them captive so they don't travel somewhere else more serious (like your brain)? That's how I think.

    I really hate the idea of using radiation to zap a cancerous lymph node--when that lymph tissue is doing exactly what it was designed to do. It's as if there is zero tolerance for the lymph nodes to do their job even though I do understand the reason for zapping them.

    I am learning from your experience, Linda, that it really IS possible to not only live but to also be healthy with ovarian cancer. Each day that I wake up without pain, eat, poop, etc. is a truly blessing.

    I was listening to some guided meditation by Eckhart Tolle today (some enlightened guy). He said "Accept what is. If you fight it, it sticks with you." Kind of an interesting perspective for me to think about as I have NOT declared war on my cancer. I am not FIGHTING cancer; I am just healing my body the best way I can--one day at a time.

    One thing I have observed is that our immune system can EITHER handle cancer OR deal with viral, parasitic, bacterial and/or fungal infections. Often these infections are "sub-clinical" or below the radar (so to speak). Lord knows, I've had my share of intestinal infections.

    I am coming to the realization that a lot of people have underlying infections that undermine their ability to acheive or maintain their remissions. I don't know anyone who has investigated this except for the dentist Weson Price, DDS--he showed the link between root-canaled teeth and cancer. Really fascinating stuff--and it was reproducible many years later by an endodontist, George E. Meinig, DDS (his book is "Root Canal Cover Up").

    Just curious if either of you have root canals...I know someone has posed this question before.
  • Barneygirl
    Barneygirl Member Posts: 90
    #4
    lindaprocopio said:

    My 1st recurrence was to lymph nodes only.
    My 1st recurrence was to a lymph node cluster in my arm pit and to a para-aortic lymph node near my spine and kidneys. I was given weekly dense dose chemo that shot those nodes down to nothing in 10 weeks, buying me another short remission.

    Those same lymph nodes have lit up off and on on various PET scans ever since (almost 2 years), and on my last scan they were not at all enlarged and have never bothered me at all. Unfortunately, I have since developed tumors on my liver, but we were able to ignore the cancerous lymph nodes for 4 months this spring and summer so that I could do radioembolism of my liver, and the nodes stayed stable. I did take (& am still taking) tamoxifen/megace pills that may have contributed to the stable lymph nodes, a real surprise since I am ER-, PR-.

    Hi Linda
    Hi Linda- Thanks for your response. I don't see too many women that have had isolated nodal recurrences. Really promising that you were able to keep them "in check" for so long. Have you had the radioembolism yet? I hope it is successful for you!
  • Barneygirl
    Barneygirl Member Posts: 90
    #5
    carolenk said:

    Thank them nodes
    Did you ever think, Barneygirl, that your lymph nodes caught the malignant cells and are keeping them captive so they don't travel somewhere else more serious (like your brain)? That's how I think.

    I really hate the idea of using radiation to zap a cancerous lymph node--when that lymph tissue is doing exactly what it was designed to do. It's as if there is zero tolerance for the lymph nodes to do their job even though I do understand the reason for zapping them.

    I am learning from your experience, Linda, that it really IS possible to not only live but to also be healthy with ovarian cancer. Each day that I wake up without pain, eat, poop, etc. is a truly blessing.

    I was listening to some guided meditation by Eckhart Tolle today (some enlightened guy). He said "Accept what is. If you fight it, it sticks with you." Kind of an interesting perspective for me to think about as I have NOT declared war on my cancer. I am not FIGHTING cancer; I am just healing my body the best way I can--one day at a time.

    One thing I have observed is that our immune system can EITHER handle cancer OR deal with viral, parasitic, bacterial and/or fungal infections. Often these infections are "sub-clinical" or below the radar (so to speak). Lord knows, I've had my share of intestinal infections.

    I am coming to the realization that a lot of people have underlying infections that undermine their ability to acheive or maintain their remissions. I don't know anyone who has investigated this except for the dentist Weson Price, DDS--he showed the link between root-canaled teeth and cancer. Really fascinating stuff--and it was reproducible many years later by an endodontist, George E. Meinig, DDS (his book is "Root Canal Cover Up").

    Just curious if either of you have root canals...I know someone has posed this question before.

    Hi Carol
    Never had a root canal, but your thoughts are interesting.
    This darn cancer has probably been slowing growing in my nodes for the past 5 years. My doc wants to radiate the ones above the clavicle to prevent complications down the line. He said that if they continue to grow, they could press against nerves, jugular, etc. or possibly cause a stroke. Yikes! We are leaving the others alone and hope the chemo cocktail takes care of them.
  • carolyn45
    carolyn45 Member Posts: 100
    #6
    carolenk said:

    Thank them nodes
    Did you ever think, Barneygirl, that your lymph nodes caught the malignant cells and are keeping them captive so they don't travel somewhere else more serious (like your brain)? That's how I think.

    I really hate the idea of using radiation to zap a cancerous lymph node--when that lymph tissue is doing exactly what it was designed to do. It's as if there is zero tolerance for the lymph nodes to do their job even though I do understand the reason for zapping them.

    I am learning from your experience, Linda, that it really IS possible to not only live but to also be healthy with ovarian cancer. Each day that I wake up without pain, eat, poop, etc. is a truly blessing.

    I was listening to some guided meditation by Eckhart Tolle today (some enlightened guy). He said "Accept what is. If you fight it, it sticks with you." Kind of an interesting perspective for me to think about as I have NOT declared war on my cancer. I am not FIGHTING cancer; I am just healing my body the best way I can--one day at a time.

    One thing I have observed is that our immune system can EITHER handle cancer OR deal with viral, parasitic, bacterial and/or fungal infections. Often these infections are "sub-clinical" or below the radar (so to speak). Lord knows, I've had my share of intestinal infections.

    I am coming to the realization that a lot of people have underlying infections that undermine their ability to acheive or maintain their remissions. I don't know anyone who has investigated this except for the dentist Weson Price, DDS--he showed the link between root-canaled teeth and cancer. Really fascinating stuff--and it was reproducible many years later by an endodontist, George E. Meinig, DDS (his book is "Root Canal Cover Up").

    Just curious if either of you have root canals...I know someone has posed this question before.

    Root canal queen
    If root canals cause cancer, I should have had it long before now (age 65). By age 30 every single tooth in my head had a root canal! Of course I was never on birth control and never had children--and my Mom had ovarian cancer. Hmmm... I never knew until this year that ovarian cancer could be genetic in causation. I was too healthy to ever look into predisposing factors for cancer. I was sure it could never happen to me. I remember actually saying several times, "I'm not the type of person to get cancer." I mean really, how stupid could I be?
  • upsofloating
    upsofloating Member Posts: 466 Member
    #7
    My only recurrences since
    My only recurrences since completing first-line chemo, carbo/taxol, in June of '08 have been in lymph nodes. Para aorta nodes only till a few months back and then a cluster in supraclavicular area that caused pressure issues. Those were just irradatiated. I thank my lymph system for working to eradicate those cancer cells and keeping my organs clear.
    Annie
  • Tethys41
    Tethys41 Member Posts: 1,382 Member
    #8
    carolenk said:

    Thank them nodes
    Did you ever think, Barneygirl, that your lymph nodes caught the malignant cells and are keeping them captive so they don't travel somewhere else more serious (like your brain)? That's how I think.

    I really hate the idea of using radiation to zap a cancerous lymph node--when that lymph tissue is doing exactly what it was designed to do. It's as if there is zero tolerance for the lymph nodes to do their job even though I do understand the reason for zapping them.

    I am learning from your experience, Linda, that it really IS possible to not only live but to also be healthy with ovarian cancer. Each day that I wake up without pain, eat, poop, etc. is a truly blessing.

    I was listening to some guided meditation by Eckhart Tolle today (some enlightened guy). He said "Accept what is. If you fight it, it sticks with you." Kind of an interesting perspective for me to think about as I have NOT declared war on my cancer. I am not FIGHTING cancer; I am just healing my body the best way I can--one day at a time.

    One thing I have observed is that our immune system can EITHER handle cancer OR deal with viral, parasitic, bacterial and/or fungal infections. Often these infections are "sub-clinical" or below the radar (so to speak). Lord knows, I've had my share of intestinal infections.

    I am coming to the realization that a lot of people have underlying infections that undermine their ability to acheive or maintain their remissions. I don't know anyone who has investigated this except for the dentist Weson Price, DDS--he showed the link between root-canaled teeth and cancer. Really fascinating stuff--and it was reproducible many years later by an endodontist, George E. Meinig, DDS (his book is "Root Canal Cover Up").

    Just curious if either of you have root canals...I know someone has posed this question before.

    Root Canals
    I had a root canal tooth in an upper left molar. I had it pulled a year and two months after completing chemotherapy. After I recovered from the procedure, was the first time since diagnosis that I felt really, really well. Prior to that I would have a few good days followed by many not-so-great ones. My naturopath, an ovarian cancer survivor, had a root canal tooth pulled on the opposite side of her mouth (same tooth). It was sent off to pathology and they found both ovarian and breast cancer cells inside the tooth. I think those dentists know what they are talking about.
  • Barneygirl
    Barneygirl Member Posts: 90
    #9
    upsofloating said:

    My only recurrences since
    My only recurrences since completing first-line chemo, carbo/taxol, in June of '08 have been in lymph nodes. Para aorta nodes only till a few months back and then a cluster in supraclavicular area that caused pressure issues. Those were just irradatiated. I thank my lymph system for working to eradicate those cancer cells and keeping my organs clear.
    Annie

    First Rad treatment
    I agree that probably these lymph nodes are working overtime to keep this cancer contained. I just had my first radiation today to the supraclavicle area and my radiology oncologist said these nodes are completely taken over by cancer so weren't any good anymore.

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