Positive Lymph Nodes discovered during Esophagectomy

retatwork
retatwork Member Posts: 3
in Esophageal Cancer #1

  Diagnosed with Esophageal Cancer in late june of 2013. Completed Chemo (Cisplatin and 5FU) and Radiation treatments with very little side effects. Pet Scan showed clear with complete response to treatment. Had a Ivor Lewis Esophagectomy in November and have recovered from that fairly well with minimum side effects compared to most. The good Lord has blessed me many times over in this journey so far. During my surgery and the normal Lymph Node removal they found active live cancer in 7 of the 9 nodes removed. The repeat Pet Scan showed no metastisis or tumors. My doctor says there is not alot of info or studies out there about my situation ????? The plan is to start more chemo next week.  Any and all experience, information, opinions and research that this wonderful board and the people on it could provide would be helpful.

Thanks

   

Comments

  • paul61
    paul61 Member Posts: 1,392 Member
    #2
    I had active lymph node after Ivor Lewis surgery

    I had Ivor Lewis surgery in December of 2009. In the pathology review they found active cancer cells in one of the lymph nodes they removed. I had post-operative chemotherapy with Cisplatin, Epirubicin, and 5 FU. I must admit, chemotherapy while trying to recover from surgery was a challenge, but I completed the treatment and have been fortunate enough to have clear scans since then.

    You mentioned that your surgery was in November. Did the surgeon place a “j-tube” to augment nutrition after surgery? If so, I would recommend keeping the tube until you finish chemotherapy. I had mine removed before I started chemotherapy and I really wished I had kept it. One of the major challenges I had with chemo after surgery was the ability to drink enough water to stay hydrated. I had dumping syndrome after surgery, (very common for IL surgery), and if I had kept the tube it would have made hydration much easier. As it was, I ended up going in for IV hydration two days after each chemo infusion.

    Some oncologists say there is no proven benefit to chemotherapy after surgery in the event that positive nodes are found in pathology. All I can say is that I believe in doing everything possible to improve the chances of an “NED” scan. You will find a number of people here who have had positive nodes after surgery, have done chemo, and had good outcomes.

    Best Regards,

    Paul Adams

    McCormick, South Carolina
    DX 10/2009 T2N1M0  Stage IIB - Ivor Lewis Surgery  12/3/2009 - Post Surgery Chemotherapy 2/2009 – 6/2009
    Cisplatin, Epirubicin, 5 FU - Four Year Survivor

     

  • dfd24
    dfd24 Member Posts: 91
    #3
    were you tested for HER2

    hello,

    I always ask people this because my husband is HER2 positive and the doctors did not think of testing him 

    when he had a recurrence Two years after diagnosis. This is important because if you are posiitve herceptin needs to be added to your treatment and is often very effective. i

    Wish you all the best,

    danièle

  • retatwork
    retatwork Member Posts: 3
    #4
    paul61 said:

    I had active lymph node after Ivor Lewis surgery

    I had Ivor Lewis surgery in December of 2009. In the pathology review they found active cancer cells in one of the lymph nodes they removed. I had post-operative chemotherapy with Cisplatin, Epirubicin, and 5 FU. I must admit, chemotherapy while trying to recover from surgery was a challenge, but I completed the treatment and have been fortunate enough to have clear scans since then.

    You mentioned that your surgery was in November. Did the surgeon place a “j-tube” to augment nutrition after surgery? If so, I would recommend keeping the tube until you finish chemotherapy. I had mine removed before I started chemotherapy and I really wished I had kept it. One of the major challenges I had with chemo after surgery was the ability to drink enough water to stay hydrated. I had dumping syndrome after surgery, (very common for IL surgery), and if I had kept the tube it would have made hydration much easier. As it was, I ended up going in for IV hydration two days after each chemo infusion.

    Some oncologists say there is no proven benefit to chemotherapy after surgery in the event that positive nodes are found in pathology. All I can say is that I believe in doing everything possible to improve the chances of an “NED” scan. You will find a number of people here who have had positive nodes after surgery, have done chemo, and had good outcomes.

    Best Regards,

    Paul Adams

    McCormick, South Carolina
    DX 10/2009 T2N1M0  Stage IIB - Ivor Lewis Surgery  12/3/2009 - Post Surgery Chemotherapy 2/2009 – 6/2009
    Cisplatin, Epirubicin, 5 FU - Four Year Survivor

     

    Thanks paul81
     
    Yes I have a

    Thanks paul81

     

    Yes I have a J tube and plan on keeping it thru this round of chemo just in case as you stated. I am currently not using jtube as I am eating enough to maintain wieght at this point. ( Just flush it two times a day) Did you have chemo radiation before surgery?  or just after. I had the chemo and radiation before and then surgery and going to start chemo agin this week. My real question is the choice of chemo drugs this round I had Cisplatin and 5FU the first time with the Radiation now thye are talking Cisplatin and Taxol ???

     

    Thanks again for the response the more info the better

  • retatwork
    retatwork Member Posts: 3
    #5
    dfd24 said:

    were you tested for HER2

    hello,

    I always ask people this because my husband is HER2 positive and the doctors did not think of testing him 

    when he had a recurrence Two years after diagnosis. This is important because if you are posiitve herceptin needs to be added to your treatment and is often very effective. i

    Wish you all the best,

    danièle

    Her 2

    Daniele,

    Good call I just heard of that test  in the last few days and am pursuing it vigorously.

     

    Thanks Mike

     

  • paul61
    paul61 Member Posts: 1,392 Member
    #6
    retatwork said:

    Thanks paul81
     
    Yes I have a

    Thanks paul81

     

    Yes I have a J tube and plan on keeping it thru this round of chemo just in case as you stated. I am currently not using jtube as I am eating enough to maintain wieght at this point. ( Just flush it two times a day) Did you have chemo radiation before surgery?  or just after. I had the chemo and radiation before and then surgery and going to start chemo agin this week. My real question is the choice of chemo drugs this round I had Cisplatin and 5FU the first time with the Radiation now thye are talking Cisplatin and Taxol ???

     

    Thanks again for the response the more info the better

    I did not have chemo prior to surgery

    When I was originally diagnosed they thought I was Stage 1 so I went directly to surgery with no chemotherapy or radiation. Once surgery was completed and the pathology report came back with cancer cells in one of the nodes they re-staged me as IIB and I had six rounds of Cisplatin, Epirubicin, and 5FU.

    Best Regards,

    Paul Adams

    McCormick, South Carolina
    DX 10/2009 T2N1M0  Stage IIB - Ivor Lewis Surgery  12/3/2009 - Post Surgery Chemotherapy 2/2009 – 6/2009
    Cisplatin, Epirubicin, 5 FU - Four Year Survivor

     

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