HER2 Support Group Forums - View Single Post - Sentinel lymph node biopsy linked to rise in micrometastatic breast cancer

07-18-2007, 10:07 AM

Thanks Hopeful,

I read the article and see that 8 had inflamed nodes, as was the case with mine. My second opinion (ultimately my surgeon) thought my cancer was IDC, about 2 cm, she said, although my initial biopsy said DCIS. I believe she was fooled by my nodes, which she kept going back to during my only examination prior to surgery. My lump was found by me (hardly a lump, more like an increase in previously diagnosed cystic breast tootsie roll) and was not visible on any scan other than MRI.

I still wonder if the three nodes were sliced--is that a requisite for SNB IHC pathology report? I hope so. I didn't have much faith in my pathologist as he never gave the size of DCIS in pathology report; my radiologist and I had to keep after him to get size. I also had to keep asking to get margin sizes, which were very large, one was 5 cm from the cancer.

Any idea why inflamed nodes? Surgeon and pathologist blamed it on initial fine needle biopsy, but that was so distant from nodes and a full month prior to surgery.

Thanks always for education.

07-18-2007, 10:07 AM	#8
Grace Guest Posts: n/a	Thanks Hopeful, I read the article and see that 8 had inflamed nodes, as was the case with mine. My second opinion (ultimately my surgeon) thought my cancer was IDC, about 2 cm, she said, although my initial biopsy said DCIS. I believe she was fooled by my nodes, which she kept going back to during my only examination prior to surgery. My lump was found by me (hardly a lump, more like an increase in previously diagnosed cystic breast tootsie roll) and was not visible on any scan other than MRI. I still wonder if the three nodes were sliced--is that a requisite for SNB IHC pathology report? I hope so. I didn't have much faith in my pathologist as he never gave the size of DCIS in pathology report; my radiologist and I had to keep after him to get size. I also had to keep asking to get margin sizes, which were very large, one was 5 cm from the cancer. Any idea why inflamed nodes? Surgeon and pathologist blamed it on initial fine needle biopsy, but that was so distant from nodes and a full month prior to surgery. Thanks always for education.