Lymphovascular Invasion??

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lorieg
lorieg Member Posts: 802
edited June 2014 in IBC (Inflammatory Breast Cancer)

Hi everyone!

I am not asking for a definition as I know what it means.  Just curious if this is commonly noted on path reports for IBC patients?  I would think it would be since, by definition, our cancer has spread to the lymphatics.  I had my bilateral MRM last Wednesday,  I am pretty much thrilled with my preliminary path report.  Although I still had cancer in the right breast (not surprising as I had diffuse and massive involvement), all 25 lymph nodes and skin were clear.  I did have lymphovascualr involvement but I guess I was expecting this.  Wouldn't this be very common with IBC?  Am I wrong?

Thanks!

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  • cwrightrn
    cwrightrn Member Posts: 242
    edited April 2010

    So glad you are thrilled with your preliminary path report--good news! I'm taking it that this scan is after chemo but before surgery, right?   I will tell you though that I  was clinically and radiographically NED after chemo and prior to surgery but scans only see so much so at the time of surgery there was some cancer in nodes that was too small to detect on scans.

    To answer your question, yes, I believe my path report showed lymphatic system involvement--and that is what is so hard about IBC...once its in the lymph system, it travels far and wide.  After a year of treatment, I went from stage III to stage IV when cancer was found in the lymph nodes/ mediastinal nodes on the opposite side of my chest.  The dr said it was like the cancer said "you can remove me, radiate me but I'll just move somewhere else."  UGH

    Keep fighting...keep positive..hang in there

    Blessings and hugs 

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  • ibcmets
    ibcmets Member Posts: 4,286
    edited April 2010

    Lori,

    I just had my Pet scan last Monday.  My bone mets are healed and no lymph nodes lit up.  I also still have small increase from 2.3 to 2.8 SUV values of metabolic activity of skin thickening in R-breast.  The technicians said it could be post treatment inflammatory process or persistence of malignancy with an inflammatory component.  My onc is not concerned but will monitor me every 3 months.

    I always ask the office to send me a copy so I'm prepared to discuss this with my Onc.  Do you meet with your onc to discuss your scans?

    I'm a bit stumped by lymphovascular involvement when your lymph nodes appeared clear.  I hope your prognosis is good.

    Terri

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  • lorieg
    lorieg Member Posts: 802
    edited April 2010

    Thanks, ladies!

    Let me clarify....

    My original scans showed at least 5 grossly involved nodes....after 8 months of chemo I was finally able to have my bilateral modified radical mastectomy.  All 25 nodes at surgery were negative for cancer.  My right breast still had a large area of tumor, but there were clean margins and no skin involvement.  My pre-surgery PET showed no update but as involved as my process was I knew there was still going to be cancer in the breast. I am just thrilled the nodes were now negative although they had once obviously been involved. The chemo did it's job in the nodes, in other words (and in the breast which was so much better); I still had 7cm of tumor although only about 50% of the slides showed malignancy, maybe why it was not picked up on PET scan.

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  • lorieg
    lorieg Member Posts: 802
    edited April 2010

    Thank you.  As soon as I get a chance i will add my path report summary to yours in the link above!

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  • Faith316
    Faith316 Member Posts: 2,431
    edited April 2010

    Someone above said they were stumped about it being lymphatic invasion when the lymph nodes were clear.  IBC is cancer in the dermal lymphatics.  So, even though the nodes themselves are clear, the dermal lymphatics in the breast had malignant cells.  The lymphatic system is not just the nodes, but the lymphatic channels as well.  Hope this makes senses.

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