Lymph Node Positive Survivors
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Mdic did you also have alnd? They are going to do that with me
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It is NOT true that chemo does not work on ER+ cancers. It IS true that chemo works best on fast growing cancers, such as HER2+.
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Tpralph- no ALND .. they took Sentinel & 1st Axillary nodes during BMX surgery both were positive .. then AC+T Chemo & Radiation .. also had ovaries removed (ER 90% +) then started Tamoxifen last March & was switched to Arimidex in February - confirmed pos
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When I got the diagnosis I read an article that showed that local and locally advanced cancer potentially is cured by surgery and radiation alone. Chemotherapy and antihormones come as extra treatment to secure eventually metastasis celles in the blood from growing further... My one. said that it is wrong that chemo does not work on hormonal cancer...but as mentioned I earlier post it works better in fast dividing cells...high ki67...
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Googling around today I found this thread but it seems to have come to a halt in June? I had a core biopsy yesterday and looks like an axillary recurrence according to radiologist at our cancer agency. My original tumour was near the axilla and my sentinel node biopsy same time as lumpectomy ended up with BS taking 8 nodes as she said it did not look good~~hot and blue were her words. 6/8 were positive. Chemo next in 2012/13 then mastectomy and axillary direction and 6 more nodes, one still positive after chemo.
This latest started with lymphedema then tingling, numbness in hand, added to by pain radiating from scapula though armpit down arm and into hand. Just over a month ago I started losing hand strength and pain and other symptoms worsening. MRI, chest CT with contrast and the biopsy yesterday. I am not surprised but still not exactly jumping up and down. I did have max rads to 4 fields including of course the axilla. Results Monday or Tuesday and no idea what treatment and/or surgery might entail if positive.
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saying prayers for you mariane! I too am receiving ac and t currently and had one out of two sentinel nodes positive. have to go back for more lymph node removal after chemo. I'm praying the rest are negative. wont allow me to know for sure if there were any more positive than the one but praying I get 0 because will confirm either there were nor more or the chemo worked. No guarantees in life unfortunately.
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Confused as to why you need to go back for more lymph node surgery? My surgeon said unless I have any issues he wouldn't be seeing me again. Strange how everyone is different.
Also my ER and PR were highest at a score of 5,with 5 being the highest you could get. But I was still given Chemo as insurance against any floaters that may have broken off through the lymph system or blood vessels. After chemo I'll be getting radiation and some time I'll be starting either Tamoxifen or Aromatase therapy.
Interesting that they say chemo doesn't work for high ER/PR cance cells. I was never told that.
Good luck Mariane. I have a friend who is a two time survivor of breast cancer. Recently made a woman with leukaemia who was initially given one week left to live but is now cancer free. Don't give up before your miracle happens.
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if chemo doesn't work for ER/PR cancers then why would we be getting it? I am almost 100 percent ER /pr positive. I think it must work on those cancers as well. My oncologist said that it would help me by about 6 percent, tamoxifin by 10 percent more survival
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Tpralph: Next time I see the MO I'm going to ask and see if I can clear up if chemo works on ER/PR positive cells. I'm also going to ask if it's insurance against any other types of cancers that could develop or if this is just targeting breast cells that may have gone rogue. When I read what each of the drugs do is seems like they target more than one type of cancer. How far along are you on your treatments? How many do you have left? Just curious why did you go with mastectomy instead of lumpectomy? I initially went in thinking I'd do a double mastectomy but my surgeon said she could do a lumpectomy and I'd still have enough breast left to look normal. I chose lumpectomy because it was less invasive and recovery would be easier. And no extra surgery for reconstruction. Plus I had BC on both sides.
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Tpralph - so sorry I missed your ?? on June 24th .. just seeing it now
I did not have separate ALND surgery. I had a Double mastectomy and during that surgery BS took 1st Sentinel and Axillary Node - both had cancer - did not take anymore nodes. Had Chemo and Radiation after surgery
Sending positive vibes for your ALND - how did it go?
Mary
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https://academic.oup.com/annonc/article/20/7/1157/...
Girls here is a link on the estrogen positve and chemo thing
I appologize if I freaked everyone out with my Doctors response back in May. After my surgical pathology report came back... which showed no change ..As to why the neo adjuvent chemo did not work well with me, but I believe I said everyone is different!
I am 63 post menapausal I had a 3 cm tumor and some lymph nodes involved They were hoping the chemo would reduce... it did not but .. it also did not grow more
Her comment to me when I asked was' chemo doesn't always work well on estrogen positive'
Doesn't always , doesn't mean never
I can just go by my own experience.. from trials they seem to be finding that the endocrine( hormonal therapy ) works best And chemo gets better response on the estrogen negative... but there hasnt been enough studies to be clear on this so I believe the doctors are covering all the bases
Which is a good thing
Most chemo is given after surgery removes the tumors which may be the reason theres not enough recorded data
Where as mine was before..
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https://academic.oup.com/annonc/article/20/7/1157/...
Girls here is a link on the estrogen positve and chemo thing
I appologize if I freaked everyone out with my Doctors response back in May. After my surgical pathology report came back... which showed no change ..As to why the neo adjuvent chemo did not work well with me, but I believe I said everyone is different!
I am 63 post menapausal I had a 3 cm tumor and some lymph nodes involved They were hoping the chemo would reduce... it did not but .. it also did not grow more
Her comment to me when I asked was' chemo doesn't always work well on estrogen positive'
Doesn't always , doesn't mean never
I can just go by my own experience.. from trials they seem to be finding that the endocrine( hormonal therapy ) works best And chemo gets better response on the estrogen negative... but there hasnt been enough studies to be clear on this so I believe the doctors are covering all the bases
Which is a good thing
Most chemo is given after surgery removes the tumors
Where as mine was before..
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pink, I am awaiting my 4th and final AC then onto 4 DD taxol. currently halted due to another abdominal wound infection from my diep. I chose bmx as had two known tumours in right breast and couldn't stand the thought of going for mammos every 6 months (anxiety) and wanted symmetry. Plus I had read that sometimes they find things in the other breast which did not show up on MRIs so didn't want that either. I think if I could have gotten away with a lumpectomy I would have, but as my tumours were apart from eachother we went with mx. then they found a third tumour starting in same breast so was a good choice for that one anyhow.
mdoc- ALND will be this fall after all my chemo.......not looking forward to that; however looking forward to getting this chemo s@*t over with!
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Mama Oz, that is exactly what my oncologist said about ER/PR+ tumors. In my case, they were surprised it responded to the chemo and they couldn't find the tumor on my last ultrasound. Surgery is this Wed. so we shall see the real results as scans and ultrasounds don't pick up on everything.
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shell , best of luck with your surgery!
Oddly none of my drs could feel my tumor after chemo which was why the big surprise Biti had implants and we think the bugger took refuge!
I chose bmx because my implants were leaking and just wanted no more worry.. good thing as the path report showed new tumor starting on my left side that had been undetected... so Im grateful for my decision
Ill. Be curious to see what your report shows hoping the chemo worked for you!! Again best of luck you will be fine!!
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Thanks Mama Oz! I just can't wait be done. I opted out of construction for now. Glad they found your tumor early!
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shellsatthebeach
How are you doing ? Its been awhile. I am now taking arimidex.. a bit achy and joint stiff adjusting ok to no recon..
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bump
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6 years out now.....and no chemo.....
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Lily do you remember your er and pr percentage???
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MamaOz - Thanks for posting that article, it's very interesting. My cancer is one of those highly ER+ cancers which has not particularly responded to chemo. I have just started Xeloda at my MO's suggestion, although I will ask her more about this emerging data.
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95% ER positive and I think 80% PR........
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shells
How did your surgery go?
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almost 100% er and pr, two years out!
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Hi lily! I remember you from when I got an ILC as 2nd recurrence in 2012
so good to see you are doing well. Yay!! I agree with aussieched about the 5 year thing..it all kind of evens out post 5 years.I also agree that apples are awesome and buy organic and still wash them well.
So I had one node pos in 2002 and still here. Ok.. had a couple of recurrences despite double mx and double axilla clearance.. but still local! So yeah... lots of reason for optimism LM.
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