Axillary Lymph Node Dissection

zjrosenthal

Hi all. I am new here. Had a lumpectomy in August and my sentinal node biopsy showed 2 nodes with extracapsular extension and 1 other positive node. My chemo doc and surgeon spoke and both agreed I should have ALND 3 weeks post chemo. That will be the week of February 10th. I am hoping to go through this without terrible pain or permanent damage. I didn't have problems with the first surgery and,while chemo has not been easy, I made it with only 2 more Taxols to go. I had Anal Cancer 5 yrs ago and that treatment was brutal but I made it through and had no reoccurance. I am 71 yrs old but was in good shape before this diagnosis. Love, Jean

Loulee

New2thissite, this site is a great help and recommended by all doctors !!

If one node tested positive , then you have to do chemo !! You can't leave cancer there !! I have just finished 8 high dense chemo ( 4 Ac and 4 Taxol ) doing my surgery in 3 weeks !! Am not gonna tell you that chemo isn't tough , but you will see that you are tougher .

We all want to be cancer free at the end of day and it is a very challenging experience , specially chemo !! Believe in your strength and you will be amazed my dear . Good luck

Lina

Hopeful82014

It is not necessarily the case that a positive node requires chemo! That is an outdated standard.

Newt2thissite - did you have Oncotype DX testing done? If so, this will give you a very good idea of whether you would benefit from chemo or not. You need to talk with your MO about this. If s/he says it's not suitable for node positive women tell them they need to bring themselves up to date.

I have known from day 1 that I have a positive node and my MO, who is the research director at a large hospital system, has indicated all along that chemo is NOT a given.

I am taking neoadjuvant Femara and responding very, very well. There is a possibility that my nodes will be clear by the time we do surgery. ER+ tumors and nodes can respond extremely well to the A/Is.

Radiation is also intended to treat the nodes. So chemo is not the only tool in the tool chest and it's not necessarily the best, most powerful tool, either.

zjrosenthal

A question for anyone who has had ALND. How long after surgery was your postop. Appointment? I am not comfortable with my appointment being almost 3 weeks after surgery! How,should I address this? Love, Jean

shaz101

Hi my post op appointment was 8 days after. 3 weeks sounds like a long time to wait. Can you get the biopsy results earlier? 

zjrosenthal

Shaz, I have my biopsy. It was done from my August surgery. It is posted below. I see you also had 2 surgeries. How is your recovery going? Love, Jean

Hopeful82014

Jean, three weeks seems a long time between ALND and a post-op visit. I think a week to 10 days is more usual.

dewhurstaj

Hello my name is and & I am new to this website. I was diagnosed w/ melanoma skin cancer which resulted in "ALND" 1-13-15. Thus, I have been living w/ the unpleasant drain for 5 weeks & my daily drainage is still over 100 cc / day. I have been emptying the drain 5X each day. I am currently wearing an ACE bandage to help w/ drainage reduction but it has had a noticeable effect yet. Where do I go from here? The Dr. indicated the drain cannot be removed until the daily drainage is <30 cc / day for 2 days? Here are my questions:

1. Has anyone been in a similar situation like this, 5 weeks & daily drainage over 100 cc, & can you offer any help.

Thanks!

Andy

Hopeful82014

Andy, the only thing I can contribute is that I've been told that the more active you are, the more it drains. So, maybe try turning into a couch potato for a while? However, I think I'd take the question back to the surgeon and persist in asking questions until you get some help. Five weeks seems like an awfully long time.

Good luck both with your drains and treatment for your melanoma.

dewhurstaj

Hopeful8201,

Thanks for the reply. I have been a "couch potato' for the past 5 weeks. The drain was initially scheduled to be removed after consecutive days of 30 cc or less or next Monday 2-13-15 after 6 weeks. However, on Monday, the surgeon's wife / nurse indicated he will not remove the drain if it is > 100 cc /day. Thus, I am seeking info about anyone who had a similar experience.

Good luck w/ your upcoming surgery.

Thanks!

Andy

zjrosenthal

I had my ALND yesterday and amazingly I have no pain and full range of motion. The drain is a bit of a nuisance but on the whole things are good and I'm glad it's over. Love, Jean

SweetHope

zjrosenthal, Great news. I bet you are relieved to have that behind you. Now if they could just give you your path report immediately, I'm sure you'd be doubly relieved.

I put a sterile gauze pad under my drain tube and secured the whole thing with lightly stick bandaid. When showering the drain can be hung from your neck by a strip of pantyhose. My DH made up a spreadsheet so I could record the cc's collected...so sweet but so unnecessary.

Did you see the great report yesterday about how very successful your cocktail of Herceptin, perjeta, and taxol has been? So not only do you have a very talented surgeon, your Onc is a winner as well.

May all your path reports be clean, Becky

Mary59G

After my ALND (42 lymph nodes), I had just about had it with the last drain!! But be patient it will happen it took my last drain almost 4 weeks and this week I had to go back in and show them that it looked like I was growing a new boob! So they drained it in the office very simple but what a relief it felt like a big rock! I asked if it would keep happening and the nurse said no, but hmmm guess what it is doing it again and will have to call on Monday and probably have them drain it yet again. Oh well, just another speed bump I guess.

Mary

Batesburg

Anyone here have positive (through biopsy) palpable axillary lymph nodes at diagnosis? I am a bit freaked out about the fact that one was palpable. I am just starting chemotherapy and will then, of course, have surgery.

Any positive outcomes from palpable to clear post chemo are appreciated!!!