lymphvascular involvement

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mmm5
mmm5 Member Posts: 1,470
edited June 2014 in HER2+ (Positive) Breast Cancer

Hi Her2 sisters

 I seem to be in one of my anxiety spurts again. I see ladies speaking about lymphovascular invasion. What part of the path report discusses this, I had no lymph nodes involved but wondered about the above. If one has lymphovascular involvement is that pretty much an indicator for future METS or can Herceptin help that as well. Are there survivors (longer term) with this type of involvement.

I just finished Herceptin and part of me is afraid that the Herceptin held everything at bay and now I may have nothing helping me. I know there are long term disease free survivors that have had Herceptin many even with later stage so would love to hear from them. Just having some major anxiety right now.

Thanks

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  • lexislove
    lexislove Member Posts: 2,645
    edited July 2009

    mmm5, some path reports state lymphatic invasion some may not. It might read LVI onthe report ect. Unfortunatly, just because one does not have lymph node involvment doesn't mean they also don't have lymphatic invasion. It is actually very common and that is why chemo is given as well.

    There are so many prognostic factors with BC, not just the lymphatic invasion. I have never asked for a copy of my path report.But I just assume that there was lymphatic invasion, since most woman do have some.I think they also grade the lymphatic invasion from only little to lots. Ask your onc or BS they are best to explaine your report.

    Don't feel like nothing is helping you, you are on an AI I believe possibly Zometa(?) Technically you are still doing treatment...

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  • helena67
    helena67 Member Posts: 357
    edited July 2009

    Hi mmm5,

    Trying to come to your rescue! Well maybe just a little bit. I am actually a few months behind you but my path report is really not that great, including vascular invasion, 4 positive nodes, etc. Not to mention a large tumor, thus Stage III. Needless to say that I have my fair share of anxiety attacks. But every time I bring up my concerns with my Onc, he never is that concerned. He is like 'well, we have taken care of this now, consider yourself healthy'. So, I have the impression that although my risk of recurrence is not zero, it is perhaps not very high either. Based on that, you should be in much better shape!

    Hope that helps a little. I truly understand how you feel, many of us do. Hang in!

    Smile

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  • lexislove
    lexislove Member Posts: 2,645
    edited July 2009

    Also, MOST woman, I think like 80% of BC patients will never have it return. The only thing is, noone can tell who will be in that 80% or not. thats what drives all crazy.

    mmm5, think about this.Are you scared of getting Alzheimers disease, diabetes, multiple sclerosis? Because you may or may not. Again, noone knows. Docs don't have crystal balls and neither do we. We are sensitive about recurences ect, because before BC cancer or illnesses happened to "other" people. Now we know we are no invisible and illnesses can happen to us...i'm past the worry phase now, that did take time.I'm also 7 months out from my last Herceptin too so I feel more confident.But I do remember the first couple of months after finishing the Herceptin and it was difficult. It just takes time. I consider myself in the more aware phase.

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  • mmm5
    mmm5 Member Posts: 1,470
    edited July 2009

    Thanks Ladies

    YOu are right of course, my anxiety waxes and wanes and this is just a time that I am more anxious than normal.

    My Path report reads:

    Angiolymphatic Invasion:  NO

    Lymphoplasmacytic response : Yes Focal

    I assume this means no outside invasion but perhaps local.

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  • orange1
    orange1 Member Posts: 930
    edited July 2009

    I've read in a couple places that approximately 30% of BC have LVI.

    Lexislove - I just saw a study that showed tumor size was not correlated with LVI at all.  So statistically speaking, you probably did not have LVI.  Smile  Article:  Ann Surg. Aug 2004 240(2):306-312.  In this particular study about 28% of patients had LVI.

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  • swimangel72
    swimangel72 Member Posts: 1,989
    edited July 2009
    mm5 - I too go through many anxious periods, now that I've finished Herceptin - especially last month after my scans. I see you're ER+ like me - I'm on Arimidex for another 4 years - how about you? If you're taking Arimidex or Tamoxifen, that should help you feel a little better as to recurrence - these drugs will really reduce your risk. Have you visited the www.her2support.org web site? You will find a lot of answers to your questions there too!
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  • orange1
    orange1 Member Posts: 930
    edited July 2009

    mmm5 - I believe that lymphoplasmacytic response means essentially inflamation and is unrelated to LVI.  I have never read anything regarding lymphoplasmacytic response relating to recurrance.... and I've read a lot. 

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  • mmm5
    mmm5 Member Posts: 1,470
    edited July 2009

    Thanks Orange1 really appreciate it! I have looked into this a bit more and it looks like I did not have LVI. Weird since my tumor was so aggressive. But I do remember my BS commenting that it had not started moving yet, and that it was not "claw like" yet. So maybe these are good things.

    It is 11/2 years later and I am still obsessing over this stuff, why can't I let it go and get on with living, what do you all do to help yourselves or am I just very odd?

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  • mmm5
    mmm5 Member Posts: 1,470
    edited July 2009

    Swimangel and LexisL- thanks to you both too, you are always around to ease fears. Yes I am on Femara after not tolerating Arimidex and my Onc not liking Tamox with Her2 (previous thread). I am also on the bisphos trial, I go for the big meeting on that in 2 weeks so will share all I hear there on these boards. I actually get to meet with Onc's that are involved.

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  • orange1
    orange1 Member Posts: 930
    edited July 2009

    mmm5 -

    Since you will be talking to an onc involved in the trial, would you mind asking him something...a couple of us on these boards have wondered on what basis was the dosing regimen for zometa chosen?  If you get the opportunity to ask, I would very much appreciate it.  Thanks. 

    As far the the fear of recurrance - I think its normal.  Its probably why some of us are on these boards all the time - hoping to find some tidbit of information that will reassure us while we try to help others through the mess that comes with the diagnosis. 

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  • mmm5
    mmm5 Member Posts: 1,470
    edited July 2009

    Orange1

    Will do, I am in the clodranate arm of the study, but get lots of good info on all 3 products, hae added it to my list of questions.

    Thanks for responding I have been following your comments on the natural threads and want to pm you with some questions.

    Sometimes I hate that I am on these boards all the time and want to move on and forget all this pain, however other times I find it my lifeline as I chose not to do a support group.

    I truly appreciate the support of you ladies!

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  • orange1
    orange1 Member Posts: 930
    edited July 2009

    mmm5 -Feel free to pm me.

    I also sometimes hate that I am on these boards all the time.  Honestly, I'm a little addicted. 

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  • swimangel72
    swimangel72 Member Posts: 1,989
    edited July 2009

    I am definitely addicted to these boards - but it's because I love being here..........it's like a little safe haven for me to vent and obsess and mostly to LEARN! As I've said before, I love BC.ORG - I HATE the reason why I found this place - but I love that it exists.

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  • kim40
    kim40 Member Posts: 904
    edited July 2009

    I'm addicted too!  I have learned a lot from reading these boards and it makes me become more aggressive with my onc when I have to be.  I always go to him with questions and he always asks "How do you know that?" or "Where did  you learn that?"  Knowledge is power!

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  • Jaimieh
    Jaimieh Member Posts: 2,373
    edited July 2009

    I had to chime in I learn a ton of information here.  I bring up things to my oncologist all the time and he wants to know where I heard it from. 

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  • weety
    weety Member Posts: 1,163
    edited August 2009

    I am in a similar situation and have questions about vascular invasion as well.  My first pathology report was done after a core needle biopsy.  This report read, "vascular invasion present in a few small angiolymphatic spaces."  But then, when the mastectomy report came back it stated, "vascular invasion was not present."  How could these reports be conflicting?  I asked my surgeon about it, and the only thing he could add was that if the first report stated that there was vascular involvement, then we have to go with that because they would not have written it in the report unless it was actually seen by their eyes.  Hmmmm.  I would have thought that the mastectomy report would have been more precise because it looks at a much larger sample, including all the areas around the tumor.  I am very curious as to how a core needle biopsy report would even be able to make a determination of this sort, being that only a few small samples of tissue are looked at and none of the surrounding area.  Does anyone know anything about this?

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