 |
07-27-2011, 08:28 PM
|
#1
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: San Diego, CA
Posts: 133
|
8 of 14 nodes
Crap - got my lymph dissection results and 8 of 14 show mestatic disease. I am so bummed. My original enlarged node shows clear which seems so strange to me that 8 others show diseased. I have my double mastectomy scheduled for Friday and then I guess its off to radiation. Bummer - was looking for some good news and clear nodes would have been perfect.
__________________
11/19/10 Identified swollen lymph node
1/24/11 Mammogram showed microcalcifications - no mass
2/4/11 Diagnosed ER/PR- HER2+++
2/23/11 Began TCH protocol every 21 days 6x
5/23/11 Ultrasound of originally diseased lymph node shows normal
7/25/11 Lymph node dissection - 8 of 14 show disease
7/29/11 Double mastectomy with reconstruction (expanders)
8/29/11 Begin follow up chemo - Adriamycin 4 treatments every 2 weeks and Xeloda. Self inject Nupogen shots
1/6/12 6 weeks of Radiation finished
2/13/12 Last Herceptin/remove port
3/27/12 PET/Brain Scan NED :)
8/15/12 Final reconstruction - hello nipples, good bye expanders
9/14/12 Rejected implant/infection. Implant removed
5/6/13 Latissumis Dorsi surgery left side with expander
PS - my photo was taken 5 days after my double mastectomy surgery and 6 weeks after my TCH was completed
|
|
|
|
07-27-2011, 09:10 PM
|
#2
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: "Love never fails."
Posts: 5,808
|
Re: 8 of 14 nodes
It does sound weird. I wondered which sample they used to figure out your Her2+++ status back in 2/4/11. It's almost like you were having neoadjuvant chemotherapy first, surgery 2nd, and then follow with more Herceptin.
Will be thinking of you on the 29th.
__________________
Jackie07
http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2011/06/doctors-letter-patient-newly-diagnosed-cancer.html
http://www.asco.org/ASCOv2/MultiMedi...=114&trackID=2
NICU 4.4 LB
Erythema Nodosum 85
Life-long Central Neurocytoma 4x5x6.5 cm 23 hrs 62090 semi-coma 10 d PT OT ST 30 d
3 Infertility tmts 99 > 3 u. fibroids > Pills
CN 3 GKRS 52301
IDC 1.2 cm Her2 +++ ER 5% R. Lmptmy SLNB+1 71703 6 FEC 33 R Tamoxifen
Recc IIB 2.5 cm Bi-L Mast 61407 2/9 nds PET
6 TCH Cellulitis - Lymphedema - compression sleeve & glove
H w x 4 MUGA 51 D, J 49 M
Diastasis recti
Tamoxifen B. scan
Irrtbl bowel 1'09
Colonoscopy 313
BRCA1 V1247I
hptc hemangioma
Vertigo
GI - > yogurt
hysterectomy/oophorectomy 011410
Exemestane 25 mg tab 102912 ~ 101016 stopped due to r. hip/l.thigh pain after long walk
DEXA 1/13
1-2016 lesions in liver largest 9mm & 1.3 cm onco. says not cancer.
3-11 Appendectomy - visually O.K., a lot of puss. Final path result - not cancer.
Start Vitamin D3 and Calcium supplement （600mg x2)
10-10 Stopped Exemestane due to r. hip/l.thigh pain OKed by Onco 11-08-2016
7-23-2018 9 mm groundglass nodule within the right lower lobe with indolent behavior. Due to possible adenocarcinoma, Recommend annual surveilence.
7-10-2019 CT to check lung nodule.
1-10-2020 8mm stable nodule on R Lung, two 6mm new ones on L Lung, a possible lymph node involvement in inter fissule.
"I WANT TO BE AN OUTRAGEOUS OLD WOMAN WHO NEVER GETS CALLED AN OLD LADY. I WANT TO GET SHARP EDGED & EARTH COLORED, TILL I FADE AWAY FROM PURE JOY." Irene from Tampa
Advocacy is a passion .. not a pastime - Joe
|
|
|
|
|
07-27-2011, 11:39 PM
|
#3
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 25
|
Re: 8 of 14 nodes
Sorry that it was not the news you were hoping for. Just read one ladies signature who had 35/35 lymph nodes involved- she was diagnosed in 2003- still NED. There are many other ladies with similar node status who are doing well!
I don't have any idea what my lymph node involvement is this time...I had 11 nodes removed 11 yrs back and didn't want to risk lymphodema etc- anyway they didn't think it was cancer, so didn't really think it was necessary.....arghhh
Wishing you all the best!
Blondie
__________________
2000-Age 32yrs
First Primary Right side:
2cm tumor, Grade2, ER+/PR+
1/11 nodes +
Lumptectomy, radiotherapy
CMF chemo and 6 yrs Tamoxifen
Retesting in 2010 revealed tumor to be HER2+++
2009
Microcalifications on mammogram
12 biospies- all clear
MRI-all clear
July 2010
Elected mastectomy right side,
10cm IDCS
1cm Tumor, Grade 3
Triple positive
3 Taxotere, 3 FEC
1 yr Herceptin- finish in October 2011
Tamoxifen
|
|
|
|
|
07-28-2011, 02:49 AM
|
#4
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 1,526
|
Re: 8 of 14 nodes
Sorry this wasn't what you wanted to hear but as others have said hang on in there!
Good luck for Friday.Are you having immediate reconstruction?
Will be thinking of you.
Ellie
|
|
|
|
|
07-28-2011, 06:39 AM
|
#5
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: San Diego, CA
Posts: 133
|
Re: 8 of 14 nodes
Thanks girls - am having expanders put in since the lat flap is out due to the pending radiation. Need more info from my Oncologist to see what the next step is.
__________________
11/19/10 Identified swollen lymph node
1/24/11 Mammogram showed microcalcifications - no mass
2/4/11 Diagnosed ER/PR- HER2+++
2/23/11 Began TCH protocol every 21 days 6x
5/23/11 Ultrasound of originally diseased lymph node shows normal
7/25/11 Lymph node dissection - 8 of 14 show disease
7/29/11 Double mastectomy with reconstruction (expanders)
8/29/11 Begin follow up chemo - Adriamycin 4 treatments every 2 weeks and Xeloda. Self inject Nupogen shots
1/6/12 6 weeks of Radiation finished
2/13/12 Last Herceptin/remove port
3/27/12 PET/Brain Scan NED :)
8/15/12 Final reconstruction - hello nipples, good bye expanders
9/14/12 Rejected implant/infection. Implant removed
5/6/13 Latissumis Dorsi surgery left side with expander
PS - my photo was taken 5 days after my double mastectomy surgery and 6 weeks after my TCH was completed
|
|
|
|
|
07-28-2011, 09:32 AM
|
#6
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 1,526
|
Re: 8 of 14 nodes
Forgot to say you look F-A-B-U-L-O-U-S without hair.
Ellie
|
|
|
|
|
07-28-2011, 10:40 AM
|
#7
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Michigan
Posts: 1,173
|
Re: 8 of 14 nodes
I second the F-a-b-u-l-o-u-s!! Your obviously a strong woman you will do well! Chime in ofter and all the ladies will help you through every step of the way! Gods blessings to you!
__________________
dx 11/12/09 IDCI
Stage 3a
ER 98% PR 80%
Her2 +3
4/12 nodes
6 rounds TCH
Herceptin 12 months 3weeks
Rad. 30 tx
Tamoxifin 6 months stopped
Arimedex stopped 9/12 (side effects)
Aromasin 10/12
|
|
|
|
|
07-28-2011, 11:15 AM
|
#8
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 510
|
Re: 8 of 14 nodes
Hi Deb,
Sorry to hear that. As you can see from my signature, I too had lots of nodes after chemo. I participated in a neo-adjuvant clinical trial at Stanford and in the end all I had at my mastectomy were residual cells at 11 nodes. The pathology report estimated that 95-98% of the original tumor in the nodes was gone with chemo, and all that was left was small foci of cells (no tumor was found in the breast). I remember talking to my surgeon about it the time, how come the huge tumor in the breast went away but not the nodes? He couldn't come up with an explanation, except to say that sometimes that happens and that the nodes can he harder to reach. One doctor I saw in Orange County last year (Dr. Link) told me that he thinks my prognosis is much better than what the number of nodes would indicate, given the treatment I got and how well I responded to it. So try not to dwell on the number so much.
I had my moments of panic when I found out, but immediately went into attack mode and got my team to give me Xeloda (albeit at a low dose) during my course of radiation. I'm about to celebrate my 2 years from surgery (2 1/2 from diagnosis) in a couple of weeks and I'm fine so far. I plan to be fine for a long, long time.
Given your attitude, smile, and fabulousness, I'm confident you'll be too. We're all here for you if you need support.
Love,
Marcia
__________________
ER+ (30%)/PR-/HER-2+, stage 3
Diagnosed on 02/18/09 at 38 with a huge 12x10 cm tumor, after a 6 month delay. Told I was too young and had no risk factors. Found swollen node during breastfeeding.
March-August 09: neo-adjuvant chemo, part of a trial at Stanford (4 DD A/C, 4 Taxotere with daily Tykerb), loading dose of Herceptin
08/12/09 - bye bye boobies (bilateral mastectomy)
08/24/09 - path report shows 100 % success in breast tissue (no cancer there, yay!), 98 % success in lymphatic invasion, and even though 11/13 nodes were still positive, > 95 % of the tumor in them was killed. Hoping for the best!
September-October 09: rads with daily Xeloda
02/25/10 - Cholecystectomy
05/27/10 - Bone scan clear
06/14/10 - CT scan clear, ovarian cyst found
07/27/10 - Done with Herceptin!
02/15/11 - MVA-BN HER-2 vaccine trial
03/15/11 - First CA 15-3: 12.7 and normal, yay!
10/01/11 - Bone scan and CT scan clear, fatty liver found
now on Tamoxifen and Aspirin
|
|
|
|
|
07-28-2011, 11:19 AM
|
#9
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2010
Posts: 229
|
Re: 8 of 14 nodes
Well at least you know what you are working with. Good luck and I will say a prayer for you on Friday. I know your surgery will go well. What I find strange is you had no mass, only calcifications, yet have lymph node involvement. That is curious. I am sure Herceptin will knock it all out!
__________________
Diagnosed: Feb 2010 @ 46 yrs old
Invasive Ductual Carcinoma, left
2/28/10 Bilateral Mastectomy (tissue saving for future reconstruction)
3.2 cm 2/18 +lymph nodes
Stage 2b; E+/P+/Her2 +++
Nottingham score grade 2
Ki67 30%
3/2010 A/C 4 DD/2wks
5/2010 Herceptin/Taxotere 4D/3wks
8/2010 Herceptin until May 2011
Tamoxifin 20mg
9/2010 RAD 34 treatments
Pet scan Aug 2010 clear
Port removed July 2011
Bone scan, chest MRI 12/11 clear
Vaccine trial began Oct 2011
|
|
|
|
|
07-28-2011, 11:20 AM
|
#10
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: San Diego, CA
Posts: 133
|
Re: 8 of 14 nodes
You girls are so sweet about the bald comments - seems I can't remember having hair even though its only been 5 months. Dr. Link is my Oncologist and I haven't spoken to him yet. I'm confident he will have an agressive game plan for me. Thank you so much for your feedback - its great to not feel alone in all of this.
__________________
11/19/10 Identified swollen lymph node
1/24/11 Mammogram showed microcalcifications - no mass
2/4/11 Diagnosed ER/PR- HER2+++
2/23/11 Began TCH protocol every 21 days 6x
5/23/11 Ultrasound of originally diseased lymph node shows normal
7/25/11 Lymph node dissection - 8 of 14 show disease
7/29/11 Double mastectomy with reconstruction (expanders)
8/29/11 Begin follow up chemo - Adriamycin 4 treatments every 2 weeks and Xeloda. Self inject Nupogen shots
1/6/12 6 weeks of Radiation finished
2/13/12 Last Herceptin/remove port
3/27/12 PET/Brain Scan NED :)
8/15/12 Final reconstruction - hello nipples, good bye expanders
9/14/12 Rejected implant/infection. Implant removed
5/6/13 Latissumis Dorsi surgery left side with expander
PS - my photo was taken 5 days after my double mastectomy surgery and 6 weeks after my TCH was completed
|
|
|
|
|
07-28-2011, 01:02 PM
|
#11
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2011
Location: El Paso ,Tx
Posts: 436
|
Re: 8 of 14 nodes
Good luck with your surgery, I know you will come through with flying colors. The fact that you are in good shape will help you bounce back quickly. Some helpful hints. Get a long shoe string to attach the JP drains while showering, get a pillow wedge as lying totally flat hurts for a while. Button up shirts only as you can't raise your arms above your head until the drains come out. Hope this helps.
__________________
 dx: DCIS 6/8/10, HER 2+ 7/26/10; Stage I Age 41
Double mast w reconstruction
6 TCH w 1yr herceptin
Tamox.
25 radiation tx
Removal of expander on L due to infection. Tried to save it had 3 bouts of antibiotics and went to see plastic surgeon 2-3x wk to get drained. Saving it was my idea not his. But lost it anyway.
Reconstruction set for December 21st,2011
Finished chemo 12/2010
Finished Herceptin 8/26/11
Reconstruction 12/21/11
Expanders exchanged for silicon 3/19/12
Nipple reconstruction 5/18/12
Nipple tatooing- 7/9/12- All done yay!
11/22/12-Went back to get scar tissue stretched to even the outside of breast, didn't work due to it being radiated skin.
|
|
|
|
|
07-28-2011, 04:06 PM
|
#12
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Ireland
Posts: 3,463
|
Re: 8 of 14 nodes
Sorry Deb, I was told my nodes were not swelled and should be clear and ended up with three positive! Goes to show we need to wait for that path report!!!
__________________
Tricia
Dx July '05 IDC 1.9cm Triple positive 3/9 nodes positive
A/C X 4 ..Taxol/Herceptin x 12 wks then herceptin 1 yr
Rads x 36 ..oophorectomy August '06
Currently taking Arimidex..
June 2011 osteopenia/ zometa x1 yearly- stopped Zometa 2015 as Dexa show normal bone density.
Stopped Arimidex July 2014- Restarted Arimidex 2015 for a further two years on the advice of my Onc.
2014 Normal Dexa scan
2018 Mammo all clear, still NED!
|
|
|
|
|
07-28-2011, 07:28 PM
|
#13
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Thornhill, Ontario
Canada
Posts: 2,320
|
Re: 8 of 14 nodes
Good luck tomorrow Deb. We'll be cheering for you!!
all the best
caya
__________________
ER90%+/PR 50%+/HER 2+
1.7 cm and 1.0 cm.
Stage 1, grade 2, Node Negative (16 nodes tested)
MRM Dec.18/06
3 x FEC, 3 x Taxotere
Herceptin - every 3 weeks for a year, finished May 8/08
Tamoxifen - 2 1/2 years
Femara - Jan. 1, 2010 - July 18, 2012
BRCA1/BRCA2 Negative
Dignosed 10/16/06, age 48 , premenopausal
Mild lymphedema diagnosed June 2009 - breast surgeon and lymph. therapist think it's completely reversible - hope so.
Reclast infusion January 2012
Oopherectomy October 2013
15 Years NED!!
|
|
|
|
|
07-28-2011, 08:36 PM
|
#14
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 403
|
Re: 8 of 14 nodes
Hi Deb...good luck on your surgery. I had 10/23 nodes and i am doing fine  Let me know if you have any questions.. i went with immediate reconstruction with latissimus flap.
__________________
1/11 age 36 DX
ER/PR-, Her2 +
TCH*6, Herceptin
BMX with immediate recontruction 5/2011 Lattismus Flap- Dx stage 3c 10/23 nodes
9/11 Radiation
3/12 Local recurrence to skin stage IV
Whole body scan CLEAR
4/12 Tykerb & Xeolda Skin mets slowly regressing
8/12 PET & Brain CT Clear
5/13 Skin mets progressing
6/13 PET scan chestwall recurrence in contralateral anxillary,internal mammary and ipsilateral subpectoral nodes
6/13 kadcyla
10/13 whole body scan -clear NED. previously resolved skin rash gone but 3 new lesions. Biopsy confirmed for skin recurrence
11/13 to 02/14 tykerb & herceptin
02/14 add abraxane/gemzar, 2 weeks on 1 week off at reduced dose
05/14 whole body PET clear/ brain CT clear but skin mets are getting worse, ready for new chemo
05/14 navelbine perjeta herceptin
07/14 skin mets progressing red rash worse
08/14 wide local excision with diep flap to close wound. Final path shows 2 positive margins showing inflammatory carcinoma Going back to surgery in 2 weeks
09/01/14 resection- clear margins
3 weeks after 2nd surgery, a new nodular rash found near drain incision with 2 small red spots behind the chest wall biopsy on 10/1. Positive for breast cancer
Radiation 11/2014 with xeloda then weekly cisplatin
11/14 brain MRI clean
12/14 finished 33 radiations burnt and very painful. Bedridden for 1 week
12/14 t current Herceptin and perjeta only
02/15 rash on upper back right side skin mets radiation planned
02/15 staring electron radiation *35
Stopped at 30 due to severe skin burn, resumed 10 days later
05/15 red patches appeared in between previously radiated area, skin mets. Ct and brain Mri clear. Simulation planned, radiation to start after trip to Alaska.
05/24 new spot identified in scar line on previously radiated reconstructed breast- electron on both side chest wall area and scar line
07/15 multiple skin and lung recurrence begin halaven
11/15 cough much better but very tired on halaven and starting to see some new red skin blotches-suspicious
11/15 heading to China for immune therapy
|
|
|
|
|
07-28-2011, 08:50 PM
|
#15
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 403
|
Re: 8 of 14 nodes
Oh, your oncologist might not give you an aggressive treatment plan since you have already finished 6 rounds of chemo. I had my surgery after 4 cycles and asked whether i can please get some more. He told me no and the 2 remaining chemos would take care of what surgery couldnt take. So now that i am done with all 6 chemos, i am on herceptin only. I too, was sooooooo depressed and frustrated about how many nodes i had. My oncologists simple answer is "we dont know why many nodes were there, there might be 20 or 30". Now i am 2 months out of surgery, i feel better and finally accepted the fact no matter how many nodes were positive, i still have to live. since i am to live, i want to live beautifully. It may take a while for you to feel positive, as you know our emotions go up and down, but you can do it. (((())))
__________________
1/11 age 36 DX
ER/PR-, Her2 +
TCH*6, Herceptin
BMX with immediate recontruction 5/2011 Lattismus Flap- Dx stage 3c 10/23 nodes
9/11 Radiation
3/12 Local recurrence to skin stage IV
Whole body scan CLEAR
4/12 Tykerb & Xeolda Skin mets slowly regressing
8/12 PET & Brain CT Clear
5/13 Skin mets progressing
6/13 PET scan chestwall recurrence in contralateral anxillary,internal mammary and ipsilateral subpectoral nodes
6/13 kadcyla
10/13 whole body scan -clear NED. previously resolved skin rash gone but 3 new lesions. Biopsy confirmed for skin recurrence
11/13 to 02/14 tykerb & herceptin
02/14 add abraxane/gemzar, 2 weeks on 1 week off at reduced dose
05/14 whole body PET clear/ brain CT clear but skin mets are getting worse, ready for new chemo
05/14 navelbine perjeta herceptin
07/14 skin mets progressing red rash worse
08/14 wide local excision with diep flap to close wound. Final path shows 2 positive margins showing inflammatory carcinoma Going back to surgery in 2 weeks
09/01/14 resection- clear margins
3 weeks after 2nd surgery, a new nodular rash found near drain incision with 2 small red spots behind the chest wall biopsy on 10/1. Positive for breast cancer
Radiation 11/2014 with xeloda then weekly cisplatin
11/14 brain MRI clean
12/14 finished 33 radiations burnt and very painful. Bedridden for 1 week
12/14 t current Herceptin and perjeta only
02/15 rash on upper back right side skin mets radiation planned
02/15 staring electron radiation *35
Stopped at 30 due to severe skin burn, resumed 10 days later
05/15 red patches appeared in between previously radiated area, skin mets. Ct and brain Mri clear. Simulation planned, radiation to start after trip to Alaska.
05/24 new spot identified in scar line on previously radiated reconstructed breast- electron on both side chest wall area and scar line
07/15 multiple skin and lung recurrence begin halaven
11/15 cough much better but very tired on halaven and starting to see some new red skin blotches-suspicious
11/15 heading to China for immune therapy
|
|
|
|
|
07-29-2011, 01:22 PM
|
#16
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 437
|
Re: 8 of 14 nodes
Hi deb, I had 12 out of 14 pos nodes, definitely not what my onc or I expected. ( I also had a negative Mamo a few months prior to my dx)
In any event , That was 6 yrs ago and I am happy well & bilaterally reconstructed.
Blessings to you!
__________________
Linda
Dxed Stage IIIC May 05, 12 pos nodes
er/pr -neg,Her -pos
LVI
Right partial mast & partial axillary dissection-June14,2005
Right modified mast-no clear margins- June 30, 2005
DD AC x4
Taxotere X4 with Herceptin
Rads x 35( 5 fields )
Left prophylactive mast( atypia & hyperplasia found ),
put on Tamoxifen x 1 yr; D/ced due to endometrial thickening
bilateral recon (saline implants)May 06
Nipple recon July 06
metformin 2010
removal of implants due to severe encapsulation, insertion of gummies 2013
Reclast Q yr
NED!!!
|
|
|
|
|
07-29-2011, 04:41 PM
|
#17
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 954
|
Re: 8 of 14 nodes
Deb,
I had 6 out of 11 nodes test positive. It's hard when we get disappointing news.
We are rooting for ya. I wish you the very best with your surgery and recovery. Is it a one night stay at the hospital planned?
I agree with the others: you are somebody who looks GREAT, hair or no hair!
Paula |
|
|
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
All times are GMT -7. The time now is 11:36 PM.
|
Linear Mode
