Anyone had chemo for stage 1 in lymphatic vessels?

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Sukisez
Sukisez Member Posts: 17
edited June 2014 in Canadians Affected by Breast Cancer
Hello all - well after lumpectomy and massive hematoma (blew an artery) 3 weeks later, was advised margins not clear. Surgeon recommends mastectomy as further surgery too disfiguring. Then got phone call from BC Cancer Agency (who, I will say have been terrific in my experience so far)- have re-done the pathology from other hospital, case conferenced it - DCIS too widespread, unanimously recommend mastectomy and inexplicably found IDC in lymphatic vessel - "very rare, don't know how it got there, yady-yada". Now are talking chemo rather than rads, have appointment with med. onc. April 2nd. Advised them if having mastectomy, want immediate reconstruction, so they booked me with plastic surgeon April 17...
I am ER+, PR+, HER2 neu -....So, ladies, has anyone been in similar circumstances? Can anyone tell me what a port is and why would I prefer one to intravenous?

Thanks! Suki
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  • Caya
    Caya Member Posts: 971
    edited March 2007
    Hi suki,

    I had port placed on my upper left chest ( MRM was right side) - not a big deal - they put me in a twilight sleep, the whole operation took maybe an hour, then another hour or two in recovery. It is a small circular disc with a short tube connected to it - they can draw blood from it (only in the hospaital, not when you go to a regular lab for bloowdwork between chemo) and for your chemo infusions. They do this to save your veins, because after repeated treatments the veins in your good arm can get destroyed -
    Good for your for being aggessive, you want to get this beast early and hit it with everything out there. I didn't get immediate reconstruction because I had just had a breast reduction - that's how my BC was found, my plastic surgeon found the tumour when he did the reduction. I heeled great from the mastectomy, and may do reconstruction after I finish Herceptin, which won't be until June 2008.
    Good luck to you
    caya
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  • Sukisez
    Sukisez Member Posts: 17
    edited March 2007
    Thanks Caya!

    Sounds like I'll be discussing having a port with my onc.! Has anyone else out there been advised to have chemo for Stage 1 in lymphatic vessels? (nodes are apparently clear)

    Thanks!

    Suki
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  • ducky1
    ducky1 Member Posts: 320
    edited March 2007
    Suki,
    I am stage 2 but just barely (tumour 2.1). The reason that I am having chemo is because of it being grade 3. I have discovered that within gr. 3 there is a variance from low to high risk for recurrence (I was high).. another is that I did have lymphatic-vascular invasion although no nodes were affected as yet..but those guys wanted to go for a swim. Therefore, I am going forward with the big guns on April 3rd as I don't want to take any chances. As for the port or picc line, I am going to wait and see how my veins hold out as they are pretty good right now. One of my colleagues never had a port and 6 cycles and her veins are fine...we're all different.
    Good luck on your journey
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  • Sukisez
    Sukisez Member Posts: 17
    edited March 2007
    Hi Ducky!

    All this is so confusing - technically (according to Susan Love's book) I guess I am Stage IIa as apparently evidence of lymphatic invasion is equal to 1 - 3 positive lymph nodes. So even though the tumour was less than 2 cm, can still end of being stage II. I was originally told it was Nottingham Gr 1, but have no idea now as my pathology was re-done. Lots of high-grade DCIS too. I admittedly was a bit stunned when I left radiologist's office after being told need chemo instead, and forgot to get a copy of the new pathology report. Oh well, shall write it down and remember to ask for it when meet onc. next Monday.

    I hope everything "goes swimmingly" for you too Ducky!

    Cheers!
    Suki
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  • 3ofus
    3ofus Member Posts: 254
    edited March 2007
    Regarding the port, it is fantastic. The mini operation is no problem, just some tenderness afterwards for a few days (tylenol). You can have all your blood drawn and chemo done. Chemo can affect your veins. Great advice I got here is to use "emla cream" 11/2 before= no pain with the needle.
    Hope you are getting through the tough decision making part of this.
    Blessings,
    Ginny
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