Remove the rest of the lymph nodes or rely on rads?

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  • sweetbean
    sweetbean Member Posts: 1,931
    edited January 2012

    I had a lymph node removal procedure called Reverse Arm Mapping - it is when they inject a dye into your arm about 5 minutes before the removal of the lymph nodes.  The dye has just enough time to travel to the arm lymph nodes, but not the breast lymph nodes.  So when the surgeon opens you up, he doesn't take the lymph nodes with the dye color, because they are not associated with the breast.  If you had a ton of lymph node involvement, then you would need to have them all removed, but it doesn't sound like that this the case here.  This procedure is supposed to help prevent lymphedema.  I had this procedure and they still removed 15 lymph nodes.  I also had radiation.  I have no lymphedema 7 months after finishing rads.

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  • Artemis
    Artemis Member Posts: 759
    edited January 2012
    I'm glad you're here, lago, since you know more about my case than I do.
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  • rabbit
    rabbit Member Posts: 613
    edited January 2012

    hi everyone, 

    I can tell you that they did chemo first with me because the MRI showed my tumor was over 4cm, and 2 lymph nodes were slightly inflammed. They weren't sure it was mets, because I had my biopsy done a week or so before and the lymph nodes could of just been inflammed from that.  I am guessing the grade 3 had something to do with it too but the size was the main thing. They wanted to shrink it and stop anything in it's path before surgery so I could hopefully get away with a lumpectomy, which I did.

    I have pretty much decided on rads....but not 100%, will make my final decision on Monday when I see the RO.

    I want to thank everyone for their input here, this forum has been unbelievable for me.

    Hugs to everyone!  

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  • sandy115
    sandy115 Member Posts: 172
    edited January 2012

    Rabbit I had a sentanal node biopsy and one was positive 2 mm I thought they would take more out after chemo however my BS refused to go back in for more surgery because of L/E. It delayed my Rads waiting to get into see the surgeon she said that Rads will take care if there were any more positive nodes.

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  • Artemis
    Artemis Member Posts: 759
    edited January 2012

    Hey, rabbit ~ 
    I'm glad you're being able to work toward a decision. Smile 

    I hope you have a (relatively) stress free weekend,
    Artemis 

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  • lago
    lago Member Posts: 17,186
    edited January 2012
    Artemis your rude comment towards me was uncalled for. If you are not interested in what I have to say there is an ignore button. You can selectively ignore me. We are all her to support each other not attack.
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  • rabbit
    rabbit Member Posts: 613
    edited January 2012

    hi sandy115, I think you are the only other person I've noticed that only had 2 nodes removed with the first being positive. That makes me feel better that your docs agreed too on rads to get the rest, if there is anymore. Good luck to us! :)

    Artemis, thanks so much, I am feeling more and more comfortable with this decision :)

    sweetbean, that reverse mapping sounds very cool, never heard of it!  

    Have a great weekend everyone! 

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  • Artemis
    Artemis Member Posts: 759
    edited January 2012

    lago ~ I didn't attack you.  I was telling jennywong about my case, and you came behind saying it wasn't so.  When I explained further, you came back again as if you knew more about it than I did.  I don't see anything supportive in that.  So, what would you have me say?

    rabbit ~ Yay!

    Artemis 

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  • sweetbean
    sweetbean Member Posts: 1,931
    edited January 2012

    Artemis,

    I think you are being a bit sensitive.  I've read the whole thread and I don't think Lago was trying to show you up or anything - just trying to add some more information.  When I read your thread, I thought the same thing and almost wrote it, but then I saw that Lago did.  The board is about sharing information, after all.  And Lago was probably just relating to your situation - I know I was.  I had neoadjuvant chemo and I got it because of a large tumor and lymph node involvement that they could see via ultrasound.   I think she was just trying to give more information.

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  • lago
    lago Member Posts: 17,186
    edited January 2012

    Artemis please block me so you don't have to read my posts.

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  • Artemis
    Artemis Member Posts: 759
    edited January 2012

    sweetbean ~ I understand what you're saying, but I don't believe that's what happened.  How is my saying "This is what happened and why" and lago's coming along saying "it isn't so" sharing information?  I was sharing my story, and she contradicted it.  I can see that her second post was adding information, but not the first. 

    lago ~ No.

    Artemis 

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  • rozem
    rozem Member Posts: 1,375
    edited January 2012

    hi rabbit

    just wanted to chime in here

    similar situation - i actually posted on the her2 area no answers

    i had neo adj chemo aswell - just had surgery

    at surgery they told me that the SNB was clear , I am waiting for the final path report.  I asked if there were micromets in the SNB after final pathology what we would do.  They suggested a full dissection if this was the case.  If there is no disease in the SNB then we would not remove any more.  I would still do rads anyway because I know that sometimes it "skips" the first nodes and go to the second

    hope this helps 

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  • sweetbean
    sweetbean Member Posts: 1,931
    edited January 2012

    Artemis,

    I hear you , but even if that is how her first post came across, I can pretty much guarantee you that it was unintentional.  Lago contributes lots of valuable info to the threads in a positive and constructive manner - I've never seen her be unsupportive.  It's possible that her tone just came across wrong to you, which can happen on the Interweb.  For me, intent is everything - I'm sure she didn't intend to tell you your business or to offend.   

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  • Artemis
    Artemis Member Posts: 759
    edited January 2012

    sweetbean ~ Thank you.  I agree that it's hard to "hear" someone on the Webz.  I'm sure lago didn't mean to be offensive; I never thought that, but it was a little startling to get such an abrupt response.  Perhaps she read my answer to her first post as equally abrupt.  I don't know...anyway, I'm good.   I'm not angry or upset, and I never was.  I do confess to having been a bit eye-rolly. Wink

    Artemis 

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  • jennywong88
    jennywong88 Member Posts: 10
    edited January 2012

    Hi Artemis, my onco did not suggest the oncotype dx but my BS did (he mentioned that my tumor size is small 1.2cm, er&pr +, her2 -, grd 2, only sentinel node involved. Plus, it's not a onco's protocol in Malaysia. To onco, a person is required to do chemo even if one lymph node involved. I guess that it may be due to that onco type dx is not covered by insurance and MYR14K is a huge amount to many ppl.  

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  • Artemis
    Artemis Member Posts: 759
    edited January 2012

    jennywong ~ Oh, ok, I understand.  Best wishes to you as you get ready to start chemo!  It's hard, but you can do it!  Have you joined a chemo group here?  There's a new group starting each month; I found it very helpful to have friends who were going through it at the same time.

    *hugs*
    Artemis 

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