Smaller than micrometastases

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Banba
Banba Member Posts: 93
edited June 2014 in Not Diagnosed With a Recurrence or Metastases but Concerned

Hey ya'll,

I have been told that in one of the two nodes taken our during the SN 170 cells were found and labelled as "smaller than miocrometastases". Anyone wanting to give a qualified guess if this is serious? 

Done a lympectomy, have something in between ILC and IDC, 33mm, slow growing, ER+/PR+

Radiation but no chemo accord. to surgeon but I want to hear what the onc says.

Thanks,

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  • Racy
    Racy Member Posts: 2,651
    edited December 2011

    Hi Banba, you probably have 'isolated tumour cells'. This is regarded as node negative.  However, my oncs still referred to it as a reason for possibly doing chemo.  I did chemo to be on the safe side but my tumour was also grade 3.

     I hope this info helps you.  Post again if you have other questions.

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  • ppplocke
    ppplocke Member Posts: 44
    edited December 2011

    I think anything in nodes is something to take very seriously. It shows progression and movement of the cancer. I had two nodes "barely" involved and three nodes "microscopically" involved and while I know this is VERY different, according to my surgeons and oncologist, than having even one node "engorged" with cancer it still is nodal involvement. Once the cancer has "escaped the chutes" you need to hit it hard...no matter how microscopically it is there. Just my two cents.

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  • SpecialK
    SpecialK Member Posts: 16,486
    edited December 2011

    My sentinel has less than 20 cells but there was a 6mm node further up - happens about 20% of the time.  I would treat it aggressively.

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  • Banba
    Banba Member Posts: 93
    edited December 2011

    Thanks for the info.

    I hear you all but it is really hard to fight to have chemo. Especially since the onc don't seem to think this is anything to be concerned about. Will start rads end on dec and Tamoxifen... 

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  • Racy
    Racy Member Posts: 2,651
    edited December 2011

    There is a school of thought that ER/PR + tumours, particularly lower grade tumours, respond better to hormone therapy than to chemo. What are your percentages for ER and PR? They don't use Oncotype in Sweden?



    Did your onc run your stats through Ajuvent Online to assess potential benefit from chemo?



    There is a website, Cancermath, where you can input your stats to gauge the potential benefits of chemo and hormone therapy. I can't attach a link here but if you use the search function to look for posts about Cancermath by me you should find the link as I have posted it before.



    Let us know how it goes.

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  • bak94
    bak94 Member Posts: 1,846
    edited December 2011

    I have heard the same thing as Racy has pointed out. That an er pr positive tumor low grade tumor will respond better to hormone therapy than chemo. Can you get a second opinion? Just to put your mind at ease about it?

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  • Racy
    Racy Member Posts: 2,651
    edited December 2011

    Yes, I agree - get a second opinion. Both the oncs I saw said that they couldn't be certain if chemo would help, and left the decision up to me. They differed slightly in their cocktail recommendations. I chose to do TAC which is 6 cycles.



    Your tumour size is not tiny and grade is intermediate. Did the onc explain why you do not need chemo?

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