Wifes Surgery just finished but question about lymph nodes, PLEASE HELP !!

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Comments

  • dthompson
    dthompson Member Posts: 149
    #42
    chantal44 said:

    HI,SORRY TO HEAR THAT THEY

    HI,SORRY TO HEAR THAT THEY HAD FOUND THE cancer in 2 of my lymph nodes and they  took all of them out of that arm and the only thing i had to do after the surgery was go for the radiation which is for 40 treatments 5 days a week and you cross your fingers that it doesn't burn you to the point were they have to take a break

     

     

    Thank you all for the repies,

    Thank you all for the repies, it certainly helps ease the anxiety of the waiting game. God Bless.

     

    Dennis

  • Rague
    Rague Member Posts: 3,653 Member
    #43
    dthompson said:

    Hi Susan,
    Thanks for the

    Hi Susan,

    Thanks for the reply. Sorry I forgot to put what type of cancer she had. She was diagnosed with stage2 grade 3 IDC. Her 2 neg, partially estrogen receptive (50%). I'm so glad you are NED. I am still confused as to what exactly IBC is when compared to IDC. Thank again for your reply. God bless.

     

    Dennis

    Semper Fi (Always Faithful)

    (A USMC friend told me that it's "OK" as an USA/WAAC to say that to a Marine.  Hubby's a retired USN 'Rigger')

    I don't know enough about IDC (Invasive/Infiltrating Ductal Carcinoma) to compare it to IBC (Inflammatory Breast Cancer) but I can give you a bit of an overview of what IBC is.

    IBC is rarer as only somewhere between 1% and 5% of all BCs are IBC.  It is the most aggressive form with a 5 yr survival rate of only 25%.  It is almost always at least Stage III and often IV when DX'd.  It does not form lumps but makes 'nests/bands' that are often/usually not detected on mammos.  Neo-adjuvant chemo is done to try to get it to from a 'lump' for surgery.  It can literally present itself overnight.

    Winyan - The Power Within

    Susan

  • dthompson
    dthompson Member Posts: 149
    #44
    dthompson said:

    Thank you all for the repies,

    Thank you all for the repies, it certainly helps ease the anxiety of the waiting game. God Bless.

     

    Dennis

    Thank you for all of the

    Thank you for all of the comments. God Bless You all.

     

    Dennis

  • CatsBoys
    CatsBoys Member Posts: 1
    #45
    dthompson said:

    Has anyone had radiation with

    Has anyone had radiation with tissue expanders

    Radiation with tissue expanders

    Yes I had radiation with tissue expanders last fall.  The important thing is to keep putting the "lotion" on as much as possible.  I had radiation in the a.m. and before I put my clothes back on, I applied Radiaplex.  It is a prescription.  I would then put a light cotton v-neck tshirt on.  (You can get packs of mens white t-shirts inexpensively).  I then would put the lotion on again late afternoon.  I would take my shower at night and put it on again after the shower.  This allowed it to soak in over night. 

    Keep applying the lotion as much as you can.  Start as soon as you have radiation.  I had 35 radiation sessions.  The last week when they do targetted radiation, I finally started to blister.  Another important tip is to lie down with no clothes on and have a ceiling fan on.  It pulls the heat out.  As a reference point, I have very fair sensitive English skin.  The radiaologist was very worried about how my skin would react.  Therefore we were very proactive with the lotions. 

    Another tip, I always took my IPOD in with me so that I could remove myself mentally from the treatment.

    Good Luck!  You will be fine.

  • dthompson
    dthompson Member Posts: 149
    #46
    CatsBoys said:

    Radiation with tissue expanders

    Yes I had radiation with tissue expanders last fall.  The important thing is to keep putting the "lotion" on as much as possible.  I had radiation in the a.m. and before I put my clothes back on, I applied Radiaplex.  It is a prescription.  I would then put a light cotton v-neck tshirt on.  (You can get packs of mens white t-shirts inexpensively).  I then would put the lotion on again late afternoon.  I would take my shower at night and put it on again after the shower.  This allowed it to soak in over night. 

    Keep applying the lotion as much as you can.  Start as soon as you have radiation.  I had 35 radiation sessions.  The last week when they do targetted radiation, I finally started to blister.  Another important tip is to lie down with no clothes on and have a ceiling fan on.  It pulls the heat out.  As a reference point, I have very fair sensitive English skin.  The radiaologist was very worried about how my skin would react.  Therefore we were very proactive with the lotions. 

    Another tip, I always took my IPOD in with me so that I could remove myself mentally from the treatment.

    Good Luck!  You will be fine.

    Thanks for the reply. My wife

    Thanks for the reply. My wife is a red head with fair skin also/ Hopefully if she has rads she wont burn. God Bless

  • Rague
    Rague Member Posts: 3,653 Member
    #47
    CatsBoys said:

    Radiation with tissue expanders

    Yes I had radiation with tissue expanders last fall.  The important thing is to keep putting the "lotion" on as much as possible.  I had radiation in the a.m. and before I put my clothes back on, I applied Radiaplex.  It is a prescription.  I would then put a light cotton v-neck tshirt on.  (You can get packs of mens white t-shirts inexpensively).  I then would put the lotion on again late afternoon.  I would take my shower at night and put it on again after the shower.  This allowed it to soak in over night. 

    Keep applying the lotion as much as you can.  Start as soon as you have radiation.  I had 35 radiation sessions.  The last week when they do targetted radiation, I finally started to blister.  Another important tip is to lie down with no clothes on and have a ceiling fan on.  It pulls the heat out.  As a reference point, I have very fair sensitive English skin.  The radiaologist was very worried about how my skin would react.  Therefore we were very proactive with the lotions. 

    Another tip, I always took my IPOD in with me so that I could remove myself mentally from the treatment.

    Good Luck!  You will be fine.

    Not all of us have

    Not all of us have 'boosters/targeted' rads and we are all different and different things' work for us.  We have all done the best we could to handle our rad issues.  Mine were after but I too have very light skin (I'm a many generation American but my ancestor is primarily German and Irish - so have very light skin, green eyes and dark hair).  I BURNED very bad after the en of rads (have the scars to prove it).  I did nothing 'wrong' - I'm glad that waht you did worked for you - but that is not the 'answer' for all!

    Winyan - The Power Within

    Susan 

  • Marcia527
    Marcia527 Member Posts: 2,729
    #48
    I had chemo before surgery.

    I had chemo before surgery. There were still two knodes with cancer out of fifteen removed. My surgeon who said after surgery I'd just have radiation, changed his mind and said I'd need four more cycles of chemo. First four cycles were A/c and second four cycles were Taxal. Than I had six weeks of radiation. I had large tumors . I was stage three with grade three Tumors.

     

    I was diagnosed in 2003. 

     

     

  • SIROD
    SIROD Member Posts: 2,194 Member
    #49
    dthompson said:

    Hi Suzanne,
    Thank you so much

    Hi Suzanne,

    Thank you so much for the reply, I think the exact words the Surgeon used were two nodes were positive so we took all  of the nodes in her arm. When I asked how many that was she replied" we won't know until the path report gets back". With that being said it led me to believe that two of the nodes were positive for cancer so the removed all of them just in case. I am praying that none of them are cancerous but my fears are that they will be and what will we do next?  I do not like her Surgical Onc, she is very arragant and acts like she is being bothered when I ask her questions, but aparently she is the best surgical Onc in VA, but certainly not the best  in the personality or compassion department 

    For Mr. Thompson - 3 Levels of Axiliary Lymph Nodes

    "Surgeon used were two nodes were positive so we took all  of the nodes in her arm"

     

    Just so you know there are 3 levels of axilliary lymph nodes in the arm.  Level 1 closest to the breast and more than likely where the cancer would hit first .  Most surgeon take as mine stated a sampling.  There like grapes, you don't count how many you take or buy in the bunch.

    I had my first lymph node dissection with a mammogram with positive nodes.  There was no such thing in 1994 as a sentinel node biopsy.  I believe they counted 27 or some such number.  The 4 years later, I had a 2.4 cm tumor (not lymph node) that wrapped itself around the axilliary vein.  I insisted that the tumor be removed (dumb on my part and no one and they all tried to talk me out of it).  I had a 2nd lymph node dissection at level 2.  Level 1 was lower in scar tissue.  He did remove all of level 2 nodes given the size of the tumor and took a few of level 3 nodes.

    I've had 2 lymph node dissections, 4 bouts of cellulitis (bad enough to be given antibiotics by IV in and a hospital stay), I travelled considerably never wore a sleeve or was even fitted for one.  18 1/2 years later did I developed lymphedema.  I do have chronic bursitis, a full thickness tear of the supraspinatus tendon in the rotator cuff and neuropathy in the arm.  I believe the 2nd lymph node dissection is what cause my problems.  I would advise never, never to do what I did.

    You can look up levels of axilliary nodes on the internet and you will find there are 3 levels.  .No surgeon would remove all those levels of lymph nodes.  A person does need some nodes.

    I did have radiation in the axilla all the way up to the jaw bone.  Radiation killed the saliva gland on the lower left bottom of my mouth.  A year later all teeth, fillings collapsed at the same moment.  I have a bridge there today.  The cancer had already spread to my ribs .I had been on Tamoxifen for four years and 3 of the bouts of cellulitis were the warnings that there was a blockage.  Sort of a plumbing problem and the infection was a backup of the bacteria not being absorb by the lymph system in the proper way.  While on antibiotics, my arm was raised (like the statue of liberty) to allow the infection to flow out.  The 4th one happened 7 years later both to my total surprise and my surgeon.  I had an infected hang nail.  Since then -- so far so good.

    Wish you and your wife the best of luck.  May she remain cancer free with no recurrence after this one ordeal with breast cancer.  

    Doris

  • dthompson
    dthompson Member Posts: 149
    #50
    Marcia527 said:

    I had chemo before surgery.

    I had chemo before surgery. There were still two knodes with cancer out of fifteen removed. My surgeon who said after surgery I'd just have radiation, changed his mind and said I'd need four more cycles of chemo. First four cycles were A/c and second four cycles were Taxal. Than I had six weeks of radiation. I had large tumors . I was stage three with grade three Tumors.

     

    I was diagnosed in 2003. 

     

     

    Hi Marcia,
    Thanks for the

    Hi Marcia,

    Thanks for the reply. I'm sorry you had to do chemo again, was your first round of chemo A/C then Taxol also? IT sounds like what your doctor prescribed worked as that was back in 2003 and you are still here. God bless.

    Dennis

  • dthompson
    dthompson Member Posts: 149
    #51
    SIROD said:

    For Mr. Thompson - 3 Levels of Axiliary Lymph Nodes

    "Surgeon used were two nodes were positive so we took all  of the nodes in her arm"

     

    Just so you know there are 3 levels of axilliary lymph nodes in the arm.  Level 1 closest to the breast and more than likely where the cancer would hit first .  Most surgeon take as mine stated a sampling.  There like grapes, you don't count how many you take or buy in the bunch.

    I had my first lymph node dissection with a mammogram with positive nodes.  There was no such thing in 1994 as a sentinel node biopsy.  I believe they counted 27 or some such number.  The 4 years later, I had a 2.4 cm tumor (not lymph node) that wrapped itself around the axilliary vein.  I insisted that the tumor be removed (dumb on my part and no one and they all tried to talk me out of it).  I had a 2nd lymph node dissection at level 2.  Level 1 was lower in scar tissue.  He did remove all of level 2 nodes given the size of the tumor and took a few of level 3 nodes.

    I've had 2 lymph node dissections, 4 bouts of cellulitis (bad enough to be given antibiotics by IV in and a hospital stay), I travelled considerably never wore a sleeve or was even fitted for one.  18 1/2 years later did I developed lymphedema.  I do have chronic bursitis, a full thickness tear of the supraspinatus tendon in the rotator cuff and neuropathy in the arm.  I believe the 2nd lymph node dissection is what cause my problems.  I would advise never, never to do what I did.

    You can look up levels of axilliary nodes on the internet and you will find there are 3 levels.  .No surgeon would remove all those levels of lymph nodes.  A person does need some nodes.

    I did have radiation in the axilla all the way up to the jaw bone.  Radiation killed the saliva gland on the lower left bottom of my mouth.  A year later all teeth, fillings collapsed at the same moment.  I have a bridge there today.  The cancer had already spread to my ribs .I had been on Tamoxifen for four years and 3 of the bouts of cellulitis were the warnings that there was a blockage.  Sort of a plumbing problem and the infection was a backup of the bacteria not being absorb by the lymph system in the proper way.  While on antibiotics, my arm was raised (like the statue of liberty) to allow the infection to flow out.  The 4th one happened 7 years later both to my total surprise and my surgeon.  I had an infected hang nail.  Since then -- so far so good.

    Wish you and your wife the best of luck.  May she remain cancer free with no recurrence after this one ordeal with breast cancer.  

    Doris

    Hi Doris,
    Thank you so much

    Hi Doris,

    Thank you so much for the very detailed and informative post. I certainly did not know all of that information about the lymph nodes. Hopefully we will find out more on Tuesday when we go back to the surgeon for the final path report. Again, thank you so much for your post. God Bless You

     

    Dennis

  • dthompson
    dthompson Member Posts: 149
    #52
    SIROD said:

    For Mr. Thompson - 3 Levels of Axiliary Lymph Nodes

    "Surgeon used were two nodes were positive so we took all  of the nodes in her arm"

     

    Just so you know there are 3 levels of axilliary lymph nodes in the arm.  Level 1 closest to the breast and more than likely where the cancer would hit first .  Most surgeon take as mine stated a sampling.  There like grapes, you don't count how many you take or buy in the bunch.

    I had my first lymph node dissection with a mammogram with positive nodes.  There was no such thing in 1994 as a sentinel node biopsy.  I believe they counted 27 or some such number.  The 4 years later, I had a 2.4 cm tumor (not lymph node) that wrapped itself around the axilliary vein.  I insisted that the tumor be removed (dumb on my part and no one and they all tried to talk me out of it).  I had a 2nd lymph node dissection at level 2.  Level 1 was lower in scar tissue.  He did remove all of level 2 nodes given the size of the tumor and took a few of level 3 nodes.

    I've had 2 lymph node dissections, 4 bouts of cellulitis (bad enough to be given antibiotics by IV in and a hospital stay), I travelled considerably never wore a sleeve or was even fitted for one.  18 1/2 years later did I developed lymphedema.  I do have chronic bursitis, a full thickness tear of the supraspinatus tendon in the rotator cuff and neuropathy in the arm.  I believe the 2nd lymph node dissection is what cause my problems.  I would advise never, never to do what I did.

    You can look up levels of axilliary nodes on the internet and you will find there are 3 levels.  .No surgeon would remove all those levels of lymph nodes.  A person does need some nodes.

    I did have radiation in the axilla all the way up to the jaw bone.  Radiation killed the saliva gland on the lower left bottom of my mouth.  A year later all teeth, fillings collapsed at the same moment.  I have a bridge there today.  The cancer had already spread to my ribs .I had been on Tamoxifen for four years and 3 of the bouts of cellulitis were the warnings that there was a blockage.  Sort of a plumbing problem and the infection was a backup of the bacteria not being absorb by the lymph system in the proper way.  While on antibiotics, my arm was raised (like the statue of liberty) to allow the infection to flow out.  The 4th one happened 7 years later both to my total surprise and my surgeon.  I had an infected hang nail.  Since then -- so far so good.

    Wish you and your wife the best of luck.  May she remain cancer free with no recurrence after this one ordeal with breast cancer.  

    Doris

    Hi Doris,
    Thank you so much

    Hi Doris,

    Thank you so much for the very detailed and informative post. I certainly did not know all of that information about the lymph nodes. Hopefully we will find out more on Tuesday when we go back to the surgeon for the final path report. Again, thank you so much for your post. God Bless You

     

    Dennis

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