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Chelee · 09-16-2007, 07:07 PM

Since my orignal DX back on 12-05 which was the *right* side only. I have mentioned to my surgeon and onc about pain in the *left* side axilla. My surgeon says he feels nothing. Its now been 1 yr & 8 months and I STILL have pain in my left axilla. (I've pushed & had ultrasounds & a MRI that shows there ARE two benign appearing 2 cm nodes in that axilla. The MRI I had *months* back said I *also* have *masses* in my *left* breast that were consistent with lymph nodes also. (I've since had a prophylactic mastectomy on the left side.)

I wanted my surgeon to do a biospy on at least *one* of these nodes to make sure they aren't malignant. He just puts me off. (I suppose because tests say "benign appearing") I recently pushed my surgeon to let me have another ultrasound of LEFT axilla. The report still shows the 2 cm nodes. It was given a BIRADS 3 rating. (When I had the prophylactic mastectomy that breast was found FULL of hyperplasia.) My surgeon stressed the amount of hyperplasia found. Plus that breast was enlarged prior to my mastectomy with a thickening in the breast tissue. I can't help but wonder if they missed bc on that side? Why do I have all these enlarged lymph nodes in my chest & axilla?
I flat out asked his nurse if they could tell me 100% its NOT cancer...she said of course they can't. Seems with my bc history it would be worth checking out.

So after hearing all that...how *long* should lymph nodes persist WITH pain & discomfort *before* a biospy is done, or the node removed altogether? Any opinions, advice would be appreciated.

Chelee

09-16-2007, 07:07 PM	#1
Chelee Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Southern, CA Posts: 2,511	What would you do? Since my orignal DX back on 12-05 which was the right side only. I have mentioned to my surgeon and onc about pain in the left side axilla. My surgeon says he feels nothing. Its now been 1 yr & 8 months and I STILL have pain in my left axilla. (I've pushed & had ultrasounds & a MRI that shows there ARE two benign appearing 2 cm nodes in that axilla. The MRI I had months back said I also have masses in my left breast that were consistent with lymph nodes also. (I've since had a prophylactic mastectomy on the left side.) I wanted my surgeon to do a biospy on at least one of these nodes to make sure they aren't malignant. He just puts me off. (I suppose because tests say "benign appearing") I recently pushed my surgeon to let me have another ultrasound of LEFT axilla. The report still shows the 2 cm nodes. It was given a BIRADS 3 rating. (When I had the prophylactic mastectomy that breast was found FULL of hyperplasia.) My surgeon stressed the amount of hyperplasia found. Plus that breast was enlarged prior to my mastectomy with a thickening in the breast tissue. I can't help but wonder if they missed bc on that side? Why do I have all these enlarged lymph nodes in my chest & axilla? I flat out asked his nurse if they could tell me 100% its NOT cancer...she said of course they can't. Seems with my bc history it would be worth checking out. So after hearing all that...how long* should lymph nodes persist WITH pain & discomfort before a biospy is done, or the node removed altogether? Any opinions, advice would be appreciated.* Chelee __________________ DX: 12-20-05 - Stage IIIA, Her2/Neu, 3+++,Er & Pr weakly positive, 5 of 16 pos nodes. Rt. MRM on 1-3-06 -- No Rads due to compromised lungs. Chemo started 2-7-06 -- TCH - - Finished 6-12-06 Finished yr of wkly herceptin 3-19-07 3-15-07 Lt side prophylactic simple mastectomy. -- Ooph 4-05-07 9-21-09 PET/CT "Recurrence" to Rt. axllia, Rt. femur, ilium. Possible Sacrum & liver? Now stage IV. 9-28-09 Loading dose of Herceptin & started Zometa 9-29-09 Power Port Placement 10-24-09 Mass 6.4 x 4.7 cm on Rt. femur head. 11-19-09 RT. Femur surgery - Rod placed 12-7-09 Navelbine added to Herceptin/Zometa. 3-23-10 Ten days of rads to RT femur. Completed. 4-05-10 Quit Navelbine--Herceptin/Zometa alone. 5-4-10 Appt. with Dr. Slamon to see what is next? Waiting on FISH results from femur biopsy. Results to FISH was unsuccessful--this happens less then 2% of the time. 7-7-10 Recurrence to RT axilla again. Back to UCLA for options.