Radiation to lymph node area?

tricia keegan · 02-06-2007, 02:18 AM

Donna I had three nodes affected and 3 area's radiated to include the neck area. (Sorry can't remember the exact word right now...supraclavical I think)

I was glad as my friends sil did not have this but had a recurrance around that area but in your case maybe with just one node they don't have to go to those lenghs.
I'll be curious to read what other's have had to.
maybe mine was overkill!!!
Tricia

tousled1 · 02-06-2007, 05:20 AM

I'm stage III and when I had my radiation I had what the radiation oncologist refered to as "whole chest radiation." In other words, my mastectomy area, supraclavical area, and my axillary area.

Mary Jo · 02-06-2007, 06:18 AM

I had 1 microscopic cell in my first sentinal node and second sentinal node was clean. However, when surgery was being performed my husband was told that there was no lymph node involvment. When everything is gone over with a "fine tooth comb" in pathology after my mastectomy was completed is when the microscopic cell was found in first node. My surgeon was confident that it wasn't in any other nodes (she said for all we knew the tiny pin head size cell could have come from the needle from the mapping) and I was also. So confident that I wouldn't allow them to go back in and take more lymph nodes. BUT, because of that choice both radiation oncologists I consulted with said radiation to that area was crucial. So..........of course, I did it.

Mary Jo

CLTann · 02-06-2007, 04:59 PM

It is my gut feeling as well as the articles I have read that says radiation to the affected node area, no matter how small or micro, should be the standard procedure. I would strongly suggest that this point is gone over with a second or a third opinion. Many oncs just are not on the ball sometimes.

Best luck.

KellyA · 02-06-2007, 05:30 PM

Hi there. I had 3+ nodes and had a double mast. Four areas were radiated, to include under the arm, the nodes near the sternum, the nodes above my breast, and my shoulderblade area. They tried to "circle" all of the nodes around the breast and I was told that this had the same cure rate as if the nodes in those areas had been removed (they did only remove the auxillary nodes). I may have needed extra treatment because I had more node involvement.

Love, Kelly

Leslie S · 02-06-2007, 05:48 PM

Hi Donna,
I had one large, fully involved lymph node positive out of 20. I had radiation to the breast and supraclavicular area ( above the collar bone). My radiation oncologist did not do the axillary area under the arm where the nodes were taken from. It would increase the chances of lymphedema. Hope this helps and is what your doc is thinking.
Leslie

Catherine · 02-06-2007, 10:13 PM

I had 3 nodes that were positive out of 14. I had chemo first and the chemo shrunk the tumors and the nodes down to the bare minium. Then Bilateral mast. and then 33 rads. My rads were to my chest, under my arm up by my neck and the back of my shoulder. I was not given the names like upper clavical. They just drew a picture for me where they were going to radiate. From the best of my knowledge, they radiated 4 areas. My oncologist called my treatment "the full meal deal." I do not know if this was overkill, but I am thru with all of it. Both my surgeon and oncologist recommended this course of treatment, and I decided to trust them. My husband listened to everything they said, did his own research. We both are comfortable that we have good doctors and took their advice and are happy with the treatment. Good luck. Each situation is a little different. Ask lots of questions and get a second opinion. You want all the ammunition you can get.

All the best, Catherine