1 node + NO RADS?

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Estepp
Estepp Member Posts: 6,416
edited June 2014 in HER2+ (Positive) Breast Cancer

Hi!

I am having chemo first. I will be done at the end of Nov. At the time of biopsy 1 node tested + and two others were "swollen".. after chemo, the node will probably be NED and I will have them all out.

Were any of you like this? If so, did you need rads? I am in a grey area I know, but want to hear others stories. I really feel like I am leaning against rads. UNLESS I do a lumpectomy. If I choose skin/nipple sparing and have the nodes removed ( that show ned).. I am thinking no rads.

What did you do,if you were in this situation?

TY

Laura

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  • HensonChi
    HensonChi Member Posts: 357
    edited October 2008

    I had one node and am going to do the radiation.  I also had a lumpectomy.

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  • TammyLou
    TammyLou Member Posts: 740
    edited October 2008

    I think that I would want the "insurance policy."  (I'd do the rads.)

    Tammy Lou

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  • henny
    henny Member Posts: 89
    edited October 2008

    Hi Laura,

    I had a positive sentinal node so my onc wanted a lymph dissection which showed all the other nodes to be clear. He said since there was only 1 node and it wasn't on the chest wall I didn't need radiation.

    I did have a double mastectomy and am so glad I did- no more worring about what will show up in my breasts later.-And am I glad because there was another cancer that was only found with pathology-not on mammo, PET/CT, ultrasound or PEM

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  • DianaT
    DianaT Member Posts: 532
    edited October 2008

    I can't answer that for you Laura, just wanted to give you a cyber ((HUG))! 

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  • fightinhrd123
    fightinhrd123 Member Posts: 633
    edited October 2008

    Laura, We have almost the same diagnosis and i just got done with chemo.  I had one definie node positive, possibley four. My MRI just showed NED, and I saw my surgeon last week.  He is sending me next week to see a radiologist and a plastic surgeon.  My oncologist however thinks i should have radiation regardless, just because having chemo first, you never really know how many nodes were pos.  Anyway, if you like I will let you know what my next two drs say.

    Laura

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  • DianaT
    DianaT Member Posts: 532
    edited October 2008

    Another thing my oncologist told me when I was asking why I had to have rads after my scans showed that I was cancer free was because:

    ~ it ensures that any cells that might be near the skin that chemo didn't kill get mopped up

    ~ studies have shown that radiation can actually help systemically like chemo because it mops up those cells that might travel somewhere else in the body.

    I didn't ask for resources to site this, but this is what I was told.

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  • Estepp
    Estepp Member Posts: 6,416
    edited October 2008

    Thanks everyone! I was just wondering. MD Anderson is now saying that if you have 1-3 poss nodes, neo-adjuvant chemo and mast, you do not need rads. This is still being looked at. I will most likely have rads.. and then next year, they will say for sure that I DID NOT NEED IT.

    I worry about the heart with AC/Herceptin/Rads over heart.. it worries me most that if I need more drugs later.. my heart will not be able to take it when I need the drugs the most...

    UGGG>.. to much huh ladies!

    Laura

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  • fightinhrd123
    fightinhrd123 Member Posts: 633
    edited October 2008

    Hey Laura,

    I was wondering how they tell?  My understanding is lymph nodes are like grapes, so even with all the scans they cant really tell until they get in there and do surgery, so if you have chemo first, and it kills everything, how can they ever tell how many were infected to begin with?  Thats the way my oncologist explained it to me, wondering if you've heard different, because the not know how many were infected to begin with stresses me out just a little ;)

    Laura

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  • Estepp
    Estepp Member Posts: 6,416
    edited October 2008

    Yes Laura, this is what I heard too. I had a biopsy and MRI. It tested on node positive to HER2+. and two other nodes swollen. They "think" I am 1-3 poss. BUT... after chemo and surgery... and until the path comes back.. I will not know. I am hoping that that comes back clean ( as we all are ).. but if it does... DO I DO RADS? uggggggggggggggg.... My onco keeps telling me I am the grey area. I know this. So, I will see what the rads onco says. I think I will set up an appt with her after chemo and my last MRI in Dec. ( before surgery.).. If my cancer was on the right side... I would not be this concerned. I would do rads and go on.

    I know what you mean about stressing you out! I think I live that way..LOL... probably what GAVE me my cancer.

    Are you doing chemo 1st? IF so... what are you going to do about rads?

    Laura

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  • fightinhrd123
    fightinhrd123 Member Posts: 633
    edited October 2008

    I am done with chemo, i posted above, i finished two weeks agoSmile.  I had my mri and it came back no evidence of cancer, lymph nodes now look normal.  I saw my surgeon and he said since i only had one lymph node i may not need rads, then i saw my onc, and he said i may have four and would highly suggest rads, because you dont know really how many there were.  Mines on my right side, so i dont have the heart problem, my major problem is surgery.  I had breast augmentation last year(!!!!)  so i have implants, and i could have a lumpectomy now, but the rads may cause capsuler contraction and mess up my implant big time, or i can have a mastectomy, which would be fairly easy because i already have the pocket for the implant, so the PS would just slip another one in.  Anyway I go see a radiologist next Friday and the PS next thursday to get there opinion.  Honestly though, after coming this far, i'm pretty sure i'm going to do rads if its offered no matter what.  Whatever it takes to keep this from coming back!!!  I'm almost pos im gonna go with a mastectomy too!!!

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  • Estepp
    Estepp Member Posts: 6,416
    edited October 2008

    Congrats on being done with chemo! My PS said that if I do implants then he would fill me 100% before rads. And then put in the final silicone implants 6 months later. He said he could clean out any CC at that time. He did not seem too uptight about it. He is a reconstructive PS and does 2-3 a week. You are going to do great!

    Laura

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