node is positive after mastectomy /breast reconstruction

Daniusa

Has this happened to anybody else? The initial pathology during surgery showed that the node was negative so only the sentinel node was Removed. I had a bilateral Mastctomy and immediate reconstruction with implants. The pathology came back and showed some cancer in the node. I am now waiting to find out what the suggested treatment would be, but I know that this is a grey area and I am curious to how others have handled this

Trishyla

I had the exact same thing happen to me during my surgery on April 4th. The breast surgeon found nothing in the sentinel nodes, but the later pathology found micromets in one node from the left breast. Apparently, she dissected an area of the node that had no micromets. It was only when the entire node was checked, did they find anything.

Radiation would have been tough, since I had immediate DIEP flap reconstruction. Instead, both my breast surgeon and my oncologist are recommending checking my nodes on that side every three months. That, plus anti-hormonal therapy, will hopefully keep it from spreading. At least that's the plan.

Trish

Daniusa

thank you for sharing that. I'm 17 days post opp from double mastectomy and breast reconstruction and already did the no drain happy dance. I am having another surgery scheduled to check other nodes and will leave with a drain. I am so scared and worried.

melmcbee

Daniusa I had a bilat mastectomy with expanders and had to go back in and have an axillary disection. I have ilc cancer and it didnt show up until they took the nodes out and sent them off to be tested. Gentle hugs to you.