Completed Neoadjuvant chemo, still positive lymph nodes

I am sorry, I don't have answers for you and I am not sure how many are on line this late at night.

Did the chemo shrink your tumor?  I was diagnosed with IDC, 4CM - did the exact same chemo regimen and my tumor shrunk down to where they couldn't even feel it but that was when I was 6 weeks out of chemo.

Hi there,

Please don't be discouraged, there are a few woman on the board who completed chemo first and had positive nodes still. It is actually quite common.

The chemo tends to attack the big bulk tumors first. It's called "tumor load". Good news is that it shrunk those tumors real good. A complete pathological response, no cancer left at all, is rare. Especially, with ER+ woman....around 20% of woman have a complete response.

As for more chemo, your onc may or may not suggest it. You are ER+ so anti hormone meds will take care of stuff. You will also most likely have rads too.

Hang in there....you still have a lot of arsenal to fight with.

Be well.

I echo Lexis' thoughts - hang on in there and good luck.

xxxxxxx

So sorry.  My heart aches for you and your little ones.  I'm just appalled at the number of young women developing this disease.  Something is seriously wrong in our environment.

When is your next meeting with your onc?  Bumping you up the thread so someone with a similar experience can share their success story.

39mom2babies ~  I just wanted to tell you that there are many women within these discussion boards who had a lot more positive nodes than you have, had treatment, and are doing great years after their diagnosis.  I know, in the beginning, we all get overly focused on statistics.  But keep in mind that treatment is constantly improving; even neoadjuvant chemo is something quite new.  3 positive nodes, while more concerning than if you hadn't had any positive nodes, are absolutely no reason for doom and gloom thinking.

That said, it never hurts to get a second opinion, just to be sure that what you're doing or want to do is the very best treatment option for you.  If you have any doubts about what's planned for you, by all means make an appointment with another medical team to review your records and weigh in on what else you still need to do.  You can stick with your current team if you're happy with them, but a second opinion may give you that added peace of mind (about the positive nodes, when to start hormone therapy, etc.) it sounds like you could use.  

Take care ~  Deanna

P.S.  Your babies are adorable!

Dear MossyBaby,

Sending positive thoughts your way.....

Have you joined www.tnbcfoundation.org? It is a community of women with the kind of cancer you have, i.e. ER-, PR-, HER2- and you may find information there that is not readily available elsewhere.

39mom2babies - Hello, I had neoadjuvant Chemo for 6 months, my tumor was my entire breast by the time I went thru all my tests and was ready for Chemo.  I had two positive nodes.  By the time I finished Chemo and had my surgery there was no palpable tumor, only a smattering of cells.  There were still 2 positive nodes and the other nodes were full of scar tissue.  My Onc didn't think i needed more Chemo and research I did confirmed that.  As I was Her2 positive I finished a year of that and will be on AI's for 5 years. 

I have meet 2 women with no nodes who have had a recurrence and those with 13 nodes live for years.  So don't assume you will not see those beautiful little ones not grow up!  Do all you can to stack the cards in your favor. Exercise, eat healthy with lots of fruits and Veggies, whole grains, take antioxidants, etc......  Do some research and find out what you CAN do. You are welcome to PM me if you would like.

If it would make you feel better to get a second opinion do that, that is something you CAN do.

Best of luck to you and your sweet little ones!

Susie

Bumping fr or success stories!

39Mom - post this on the Stage 3 forum.....there are loads of women there who had +'ve nodes after Chemo and are fine, 5 or more years out....hang in there.

Hi.  I know this is an old thread, but I just heard that I had 8 positive nodes despite 16 weeks of dose dense chemo and surgery.  Is anyone available to chat?

I also had neoadjuvant chemo with positive nodes after surgery.  Please feel free to pm me.

Being er and pr positive what about tamoxifen, you may have good results with them press your oncodx. They might work better than the chemo. Praying for you.

I was diagnosed in September. Was told to do chemo first and decided against it. Getting surgery November 9! I hope I made the right decision. Did they say you would get a Full response? I was told it would be downstaged But that er tumors don't get a full response. I believe the tamoxifen will be the thing that helps us hormone receptor positive women. They said overall outcome is same. And becsue you have positive nodes doesn't mean it didn't work.