Lymph Vascular Invasion

scrapmom40

I am just wondering how many other women have had LVI (Lymph Vascular Invasion?).  I have not posted to the board in a very long time (probably over a year).  I was dx in January 2008.  I finished my treatment in June 2008.  I had a SNB with 3 nodes removed.   The nodes were clean, but I had LVI.  Because of the LVI I had 4 rounds of AC Chemo.  I just worry about recurrence since it was in the lymph vessels and I only had 3 nodes removed.  What if the sentinel nodes were clean, but one of the nodes left behind was not?  Any way, just looking for other women who might have had the same diagnosis to see how they feel about it.

Thanks for listening.

Karen

lexislove

A LOT of woman have Lymph Vascular Invasion present...that is why you did the chemo. To get anything that MAY...and I say may have escaped.

Your nodes were clean which is a good thing. Don't worry about other nodes being left behind. When they did the SNB the look at the Sentinel Node first if that is clean, more than 95% of the time the remaining nodes are too. Your surgeon was just being extra percautious by checking two more nodes. He was thorough, feel comfort knowing that!

We have all been where you are right now, finishing the treatment and now wondering if the treatment you went through worked. As the time goes by, everyday passes it gets easier. I had to start taking a mild dose of an anti depressant to help me move forward and it has helped me. Maybe bring up your concerns with your onc or family doc and see what they can do to help you.

Some woman say exercise helps them with their anxiety, but bottom line you just have to find what works for you.Remember you don't have to suffer...none of this signed up for any of this. Help yourself. Good luck!

scrapmom40

Hi Lexislove - thanks for your reply.  I am seeing my regular doc next week for my annual check-up so I might talk to him about taking something for depression.  I was taking Lupron shots to surpress my ovaries for the last 2 months, but I stopped them because the hot flashes are out of control.  I am thinking today maybe that is what is causing me to be so emotional the last few days.  Maybe it is just a rush of hormones coming back since I stopped the Lupron.  Who knows.  I am hoping I will think about BC less and less as time goes on.

Thanks again for replying.

Take care,

Karen

Renia

have a question how do they check for intravascular invasion? Is it done during the surgery or by MRIs? I am just curious? And also does anyone know how do they find intramamary nodes? Just curious.

lexislove

Intramammary nodes will usually light up on a PET or CT scan. I think...that they can also tell at the time of surgery if there are nodes positive near the breastbone.I hope someone can clarify more for you.

 Intavascular invasion? I'm not 100% sure but I would think at the time of surgery..they would then send to pathology and this would confirm.

nicole0714

karen,

why were you taking lupron? the reason I am asking is that I heard it can shut the ovaries down to "preserve the eggs" for people who may want to get pregnant in the future. I think it is controversial. I know they also give it to shut the ovaries down until they are removed.

Just wondering...

Nicole