Grey's Anatomy LE plot

cookiegal

Yes! There is a LE sublot on Grey's this week, involving a BC patient, seeking a node transfer.

Why this poor woman has no garments on is a good question.

Just be warned one of the other storylines is kinda graphic.

jinky

Yes I saw it here in Nova Scotia and they as I understand it  transfered a lymp node if I understand it right? Only got the Grey's here for a hour. Anyonr else see it? thanks le hugs jinky

LisaAlissa

Yes, I did see it.

 At 11:50 on the ABC site's full episode video, her doctor/surgeon says (while trying to talk her out of lymph node transfer surgery) "I know the lymphedema is bad...we just need to be happy the cancer is gone."  Sounds like they've done some research about how some of our surgeons react!

I thought the information about lymphedema posted on the Grey's Anatomy site by the show's director of medical research was almost more interesting. You can see that here:
http://abc.go.com/shows/greys-anatomy/medical-case-file/ThemeGallery/932047

They don't really show the outcome of the lymph node transfer surgery she has (it was one of the "lesser" storylines in the episode, but I thought it was interesting that it was included in the show.

LisaAlissa

Deborah2012

Hello ladies,

Although I don't watch the show, I appreciated the link.  I had never heard of node transfer surgery. 

Here's my Q:  I just had a mastectomy 2-3-12.  They took three of my nodes- two primary and one secondary.  All three came back NEGATIVE.  This must happen frequently.  As such,I wonder if is there any donation program? Or are the lymphs in the process? Perhaps, once one is diagnosed with BC it's irrelevant for donor purposes even though the nodes came back clear? 

The point is I wonder if anyone is setting up "re-use" of lymphs that are clear post MX for lymphedema patients. Or, if one could "store" their own if eventually needed?  

BTW, I have no problems (it's obviously very early) and will not be facing chemo nor radiation.

Deborah2012

jinky

Wish there was a way we could e-mail Grey's and tell them we appreciate the story about le etc.....can't find a e-mail for the show....le hugs jinky

kira66715

But Jinky, I would love to tell them that the patient should have been shown in compression!

There must be an email.

Kira

LisaAlissa

Don't know about an e-mail, but if you go to the link I put in my earlier post, you'll see their medical director's discussion of lymphedema.  There's a comment function at the bottom.  When I posted the link yesterday, no one had made any comments, so any comment you make is unlikely to be buried at this point.  (And BTW, it looks like the medical director didn't find the discussion for medical professionals on SUSO...maybe there's a celulitis storyline they could use in the future to explore lymphedema a bit more?) 

Just a thought.

LisaAlissa

mthomp2020

Deborah2012, when they remove the lymph nodes, they take tissue samples from them to determine if any cancer cells are present, so they wouldn't be able to use them again.

kira66715

I tried to post the stepupspeakout link, but it never showed up, but Marga Massey posted a comment!

http://abc.go.com/shows/greys-anatomy/medical-case-file/ThemeGallery/932047

She calls us "water sisters"--and I prefer "swell sistahs" because it's not water....

But, she is a great advocate for us.

Kira

carol57

I tried to post a message that included the suggestion to go to SU-SO, but there's no sign of my post, either. 

cinnamonsmiles

I watched the show. We need to remember that although it has medical basis for it's plot, it is still nofictional tv. I imagine that the writers thought there would be more shock value (which what Grey's loves) to see the arm without the le compression garments. They got to see the arm completely swollen, not hidden under a garment so that the viewers who are unaware of what LE can do, can see an arm, not a bunch of fake stuffing under some material.

cookiegal

I love the show, and cinnamon I get where you are coming from. I had trouble watching the meat grinder part tho. It's good I think to let people know that it is serious.

I actually loved the conversation Bailey had with Mark at the end when he said, you become more careful later in your career because you know risk has real consequences. 

I love Bailey as a character, and I love Chandra Wilson. I saw her in Caroline or Change on Broadway and in her bio in the program it says TV: Pilot-Surgeons! Little did she know what it was about to become.

jinky

Just keep getting phone call from ladies about Grey's lymphedema. Yes Kira a sleeve and glove would have been great. Still think we should e-mail them to let them know  we saw it and to suggest next time to use a sleeve and glove. Can't find email address. le hugs jinky xxoo

kira66715

Jinky, they have a page with medical information on LE: I checked and the woman who writes it is not a medical professional. I posted a comment and so did Carol--I had to establish an ABC account, and they didn't publish it. So, I wonder if they pick and chose their comments.

http://abc.go.com/shows/greys-anatomy/medical-case-file/ThemeGallery/932047 

Only warm wishes are posted.  I totally agree with cinnamonsmiles that a large arms are more "shock value" than wrapped arms....

Kira

hrf

I understood from some docs here that lymph node transplant/transfer is still every experimental and hasn't been perfected yet. Is it farther along than that? 

11BC

Thanks for posting this. I'll check out the Grey's Anatomy show/info.

Here is a NYTimes article, which talks about the autologous lymph node transfer procedure:
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/21/health/21lymph.html

Here is a plastic surgeon's perspective:
http://breastreconstructionnetwork.com/what-are-my-options-if-i-develop-lymphedema/

Plastic surgeons who are doing the procedure in New York include Drs. Constance Chen, Robert Allen and Joshua Levine.

You can also find additional threads about "lymph node transfer" on the breastcancer.org forum. Just search for those keywords.