Micromet in one node?

gqmom · 06-16-2011, 04:38 PM

After meeting with my surgeon today, we were told that I have a "micromet" in 1 out of 6 of the lymph nodes removed during surgery. He told me that he doesn't feel it necessary to do an axillary dissection since it's so small and I'll be receiving chemo anyway. The report confirmed that my tumor was 4cm but 80% of it was DCIS...the smaller portion was invasive. What's the deal with the micromet thing? Does it affect prognosis? Anyone have any thoughts?

Becky · 06-16-2011, 05:57 PM

Hi

I had 2 micromets in one node (out of 10 removed). As far as prognosis, some studies say it is no different than being node negative and some say it is slightly worse but not as bad as having one fully loaded node.

None the less, I know there are other women on this board that are just like us. I am still here almost 7 yrs out and had a very old "gold standard" treatment and late Herceptin (alone after everything else was done).

You will be fine and we are here for you.

Mary Jo · 06-17-2011, 07:59 PM

After my mastectomy 6 years ago, my surgeon told my husband that the 2 sentinal nodes removed did not have cancer. But, we would have to wait for the official report. When the pathology report was finished, I did have 1 micromet to one of the sentinal nodes. My surgeon did tell me that the standard of care was to remove more nodes. I immediately said "NO!" I was more afraid of lymphodema than I was of there being more cancer in the nodes. She agreed with me and said that she felt the 1 micromet could have come from the needle biopsy. I did go through the chemo/herceptin regemin and it was also recommended to me that I undergo radiation because of the micromet and not allowing them to remove more nodes. I decided to do that also.

June 23 it will be 6 years since my diagnosis and I am fine.

God Bless.......