Mets in lymph node in neck

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Waiting for further staging on Monday - suspected a regional recurrance originally as there was a lump under my collarbone but FNA has found cancer cells in the lymph nodes on the neck. (Core biopsy results on the lump aren't back but it's expected to be the original cancer)

Has anyone had surgery to remove the nodes in the neck? Is this a 'normal' thing or would they go for chemo instead?

Hugs,

Colette

Comments

  • Denny123
    Denny123 Member Posts: 1,886
    edited December 2014

    I had nodes behind my sternum and in my supraclavicular area....no surgery....I did chemo instead, tried a few and finally Kadcyla for 8 months gave me NED.

    If you are Stage 4, I don't think surgery would really help since without systemic tx, it could also arise elsewhere.

    Denise

  • blondedoris
    blondedoris Member Posts: 197
    edited December 2014

    Hi Denny

    Good to hear you're NED!

    Think they want to follow the surgery with chemo; I'm strangely more comfortable with being offered chemo than having surgery on the neck (but the surgeon I have is fantastic, if I was going to let anyone do it then it'd be him)

  • Rexibet
    Rexibet Member Posts: 1
    edited December 2014

    Hi,

    Denny, its great to hear that you are NED!
    I had a lymphnode tumour behind my sternum ( internal mammary lumph nodes), but had it operated Dec 2013. It was to big and caused me pain. I had another large lymph node (2.5x4cm) in the interpectoral LNs, which also was operated at the same time and it was a good decision at the time, as the surgeon said afterwards, that that one would have become inoperable 1-2 months later!

    Two week ago I have been diagnosed with a small supraclavicular lymphnode tumour (7mm) and have opted to get it removed next month.

    BlondeDoris - have they staged you now? is your recurrence in lymphnodes only ( regional recurrence) or actual mets? When is your op?

    Rexibet

  • Moderators
    Moderators Member Posts: 25,912
    edited December 2014

    Dear Rexibet, We just wanted to say hello and welcome to the community. We hope that you will find some answers and lots of support here. Keep posting and let us know how you continue to feel. The Mods

  • blondedoris
    blondedoris Member Posts: 197
    edited December 2014

    Hey Rexibet

    Sorry to hear you've found another met - how sucky is that? Are you having a neck dissection or a node removal?

    Have a PET scan on the 2nd and then the Onc on the 5th - so far they've only confirmed above and below collarbone mets. There's a small lesion on one lung and a bright area on my skull on the CT, but they can't say what they are (path report states atypical for mets on both but can't rule out until after PET scan).

    So hoping it's just contained in the neck and they can carve it out - surgeon appt on the 6th so we'll see. If it's just in the neck then they'll consider neck dissection but if it's also elsewhere they've said it wouldn't be worth it.


  • blondedoris
    blondedoris Member Posts: 197
    edited January 2015

    Well, not the best start to 2015...mets to lymph nodes in neck, a node behind the lung, lesions in the lung and bone mets to the skull. Surgery is off the menu at the moment as there's no point in removing the lymph nodes as the other sites are growing (and you can now see the one on my collarbone through my shirt...had no idea they can grow in size so fast. It wasn't visible like that before Christmas).

    Back to the Onc on monday and they think Xeloda and Navelbine will be my first treatments, possibly with some rads to the skull. Not thrilled to be having chemo again but so very grateful to have options

  • Denny123
    Denny123 Member Posts: 1,886
    edited January 2015

    Thanks Rexi,

    I sure hope your mets cease. Still wondering why you can't get chemo for them??

    If/when I have another recurrence, I will try Kadcyla again. I really prefer chemo to surgery.

    Good luck Blonde!

    Denise

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