Lymphatic Invasion

It is not at all unusual for lymph nodes to be positive - especially with some types of BC.  'Nodes' (lymph nodes) are part of the lymphatic system.  It does not mean you are 'doomed'!  (19 of my 19 removed lymph nodes were positive and I'm 4+ ys NED for Stage IIIc IBC.)  A lot also depends on the type of BC - all BC is not equal in how aggressive it is.

As you have an appt on Mon - WRITE DOWN all of your questions and take the list with you to be sure you ask all of them.  She/He is the one who can give you the answers for you or (if you are uncomfortable with her/him) get a second opinion.  Stay away from "Dr Google" til then and you are armed with more info.

desimone - Doxorubicin is Adriamycin and Cyclophosphamide is Cytoxan.  Paclitaxel is Taxol.

They are all commonly used with BC.  

 Adriamycin and Cytoxan is often seen written as A/C.  For me, A/C was easier by far than Taxol was but for many others it is the reverse.  I did 4 A/C 2 weeks apart neoadjuvant (before surgery) and 12 weekly Taxol adjuvant (after surgery).    With A/C, I was only mildly tired on days 3 and 4 but a nap helped - definately did not keep me from doing anything I wanted to do.  On A/C, I lost head hair, about 1/2 of eye lashes/brows and other body hair, lost all appetite, senses of taste and smell.  Neulasta is often/usually give the day after infusion to encourage white cell production.  It usually produces pain which OTC Claratin is supposed to help.  I did not have pain from it at all but, almost to minute, 2 hrs after injection I would go to sleep for 2 hrs and wake up fine.

Taxol was a different story!    I was completely and utterly EXHAUSTED the entire time - I existed either on the couch in front of the TV or in bed.  Sleep never came no matter how exhausted I was without sleep meds (which I had never before needed or used).  I was able to make it to each infusion but the IV benadryl would put me to sleep as soon as it was given but I would wake up about 20 mins before end of infusion.  My temperature has always been on the low side anyway,  but on Taxol it really dropped.  The good thing about Taxol was a week after last infusion, I started feeling better daily.  I also started rads a week after last Taxol and Femara (it was not yet available in its generic form, letrozole) a week into rads.

Very basic, 'nodes' (lymph nodes) can be thought of as the pumping 'stations' for the lymphatic system.

You should be given an 'Education Class'  at your Center with a Chemo RN privately before 1st Chemo when you will be given lots of info and can ask questions.

Remember - we are each unique so we 'react' differently.  Our Drs are each unique and have different ideas onTX plans.  My TX plan was different than most IBCers have - for me it was right on.

Hi Desimone,

Let me clarify some confusion about LVI which is lymph and vascular invasion. Lymph nodes are all connected by " channels' witch also involves blood vessels.

A pathology report is dependant on the tissue submitted which may only may only report a node or portion node, not the connecting channels, etc.

Regardless of the report if there is reported lymph node involvement that means the BC has spread beyond the breast itself (which is basically the lymph systems job as a filtering system) Anyway, lymph node involvment that cranks up the recommended tx.) which I feel is a good thing in the end.

I was dxed over 8.5 yrs ago with 12 positive nodes and Her2 pos BC and I am well and living large.

I try to come here to offer support to the newly dxed when I can.

What I can say is for you all to come to these boards often for support and info. This will help you.

I wish you all a gentle journey on the road that no one wanted to go down.