Question about Lymphnodes

Dad'sfight
Dad'sfight Member Posts: 155
in Esophageal Cancer #1

Dad only had 12 lymphnodes removed during surgery, all came back clean.   Then I've been reading where some have had up to 20 removed and 1 was positive. I guess I'm second questioning if anyone had had chemo after surgery with no postive nodes detected.  I'm thinking if more were removed maybe 1 would have been positive.  All the doctors said no chemo needed but 12 lymphnodes doesn't seem like many compared to what I'm reading.  Not that I would have ever wanted more chemo for Dad, I guess I'm just a ball of nerves because his 1st scan is July 1st and I'm a nervous wreck about the results. I guess I'm wanting to make sure we've done all that we can do for him.

Comments

  • LauraandLarry
    LauraandLarry Member Posts: 184
    #2
    Hello

    It is so good to hear from you again. I'm sorry to hear about your dad's hip. Hopefully he will continue to move forward. You are always in my thoughts, prayers to you. As far as the nodes go...I'm with you, scares the crap out of me. I have read that it is also a debate with the medical society. The most drastic surgery can remove many many nodes. The less invasive much less. Scary stuff. Try to keep calm. I know its hard. This disease is playing havoc with our minds as it is. Good luck and prayers for a clean scan.

    Laura

  • Josie60
    Josie60 Member Posts: 80
    #3
    I hope your dad has a clean

    I hope your dad has a clean scan.  As you have read I'm sure, every person reacts differently to EC And the stage of cancer advancement can make a big diffence. For me when initially diagnosed in 2012 at stage 3. I had 7 lymph nodes involved a along the esophagus and between the liver and stomach.  I never really heard how many nodes were removed but there are several along the esophagus. Pathology said that the chemo had killed the cancer in the nodes, but 3 months later it showed up it distant nodes so I have been undergoing chemo since last September trying to clear the cancer from the lymph nodes.

  • Dad'sfight
    Dad'sfight Member Posts: 155
    #4
    Josie60 said:

    I hope your dad has a clean

    I hope your dad has a clean scan.  As you have read I'm sure, every person reacts differently to EC And the stage of cancer advancement can make a big diffence. For me when initially diagnosed in 2012 at stage 3. I had 7 lymph nodes involved a along the esophagus and between the liver and stomach.  I never really heard how many nodes were removed but there are several along the esophagus. Pathology said that the chemo had killed the cancer in the nodes, but 3 months later it showed up it distant nodes so I have been undergoing chemo since last September trying to clear the cancer from the lymph nodes.

    @ Laura..How is Larry doing?

    @ Laura..How is Larry doing? I really hope he's feeling better.

    @Josie...They said Dad had 3 very enlarged and several small ones.  They never gave me a number of those. They said they were all around the Esphogas. My heart breaks to hear that it came back and so soon for you.  I wouldn't wish EC on my worst enemy.  I know we had talked before but I didn't think your re-occurence was so soon. How are you doing with the chemo? I just want to let you know that you and the other fighter's on here are such a tremendous help for us care takers.  THANK YOU!! 

  • sham81
    sham81 Member Posts: 41
    #5
    hi

    my dad's one lymp node tested positive frm abt 18 ...all i will say its better to have chemo ....but thts my opinion.....n one specail request ....my dad just got carried away with his lifestyle as in he wanted to be his old sel after the operation and chemo ....but u just cant ...sadly he had stomache ulcers which went undetected till late ....n than he had salts imbalance n finallly his heart failed .....i just wanna say u r dad will be fine but plzz plzz tell him lifes different after .....u have to be very cautious...

    love and prayer for u 

  • LauraandLarry
    LauraandLarry Member Posts: 184
    #6
    sham81 said:

    hi

    my dad's one lymp node tested positive frm abt 18 ...all i will say its better to have chemo ....but thts my opinion.....n one specail request ....my dad just got carried away with his lifestyle as in he wanted to be his old sel after the operation and chemo ....but u just cant ...sadly he had stomache ulcers which went undetected till late ....n than he had salts imbalance n finallly his heart failed .....i just wanna say u r dad will be fine but plzz plzz tell him lifes different after .....u have to be very cautious...

    love and prayer for u 

    sham81

    I am with you. I feel that since there were still live cells and tumor at the time of my husbands surgery that he should have had follow up chemo. I am always a wreck about the nodes that were left behind. And yes at times I feel like Larry's unacceptance of his new life will kill him as well. I am so sorry for your loss. It really stinks when we try so hard to help and they won't really help themselves.

  • Josie60
    Josie60 Member Posts: 80
    #7
    The second round involved an

    The second round involved an additional seven nodes. The chemo has knocked down to just one that is still active but not growing in May.  I keep crossing my fingers that the July pet scan will give me an NED. But overall I feel pretty good most days. My J tube give me some trouble and I don't have much of an appetite. Each case ands each surgeon is different.

  • eternalife
    eternalife Member Posts: 36
    #8
    Josie60 said:

    The second round involved an

    The second round involved an additional seven nodes. The chemo has knocked down to just one that is still active but not growing in May.  I keep crossing my fingers that the July pet scan will give me an NED. But overall I feel pretty good most days. My J tube give me some trouble and I don't have much of an appetite. Each case ands each surgeon is different.

    Next scan

    Hi Josie,

    You and my husband had cancer in the lymph nodes and the esophagus. While the chemo stopped spreading in the lymph nodes for him, he is still fighting the primary site, will have a scan in July like you. The waiting is so frustrating.

    Will add you to my prayer list.. hoping that the scan will test NED for both of you.

    Best,

Discussion Boards