Hi,
This is my first post, so please bear with me!
I had my pre-op clinic appointment this morning - my surgery is down as Mastectomy with ANC… my consultant didn’t mention ANC when we last met- is it because my tumour is very large? (nothing was seen in nodes on ultrasound). I’ve also had a CT which showed no sign of spread.
I presumed that he’d do a SNB first…?
What information am I missing?
It’s all new to me, sorry that I’m a bit ignorant.
Obviously I’ll have what I need - but I’m hoping I might glean some useful insight from you lovely lot.
Thank you!
Bluetit
Hello and welcome to the forum. Hopefully one of the other ladies might be able to help with your query, however I would suggest you call your breast care nurse, explain to her that you were not aware of the ANC before seeing it on your pre op form and ask her about it. They tend to be a good source of advice and understanding of things.
Sedning you hugs
helena xxx
Thank you for your reply
My nurse is on holiday so I’ve emailed her counterpart (I’m not sure how quickly she’ll reply though as I’m not her patient) x
Hello Bluetit, you may get a quicker response if you ring the nurses - you can request another appointment to discuss this if you have not had the opportunity to do so or are not happy with the explanation .Could it be you’ve been asked to give consent for an ANC if during the op they find sentinel nodes are cancerous ? Some hospitals have the facilities to test the nodes during the op and this can avoid a second op / anaesthetic.
Hi Bluetit, welcome to the forum ?
There certainly sounds to be some confusion, an ANC wouldn’t be done unless there was any evidence of cancer in your nodes which will only be known for certain after SNB, it wouldn’t be done purely because you have a large tumour.
I would say ring the clinic to clarify exactly what’s going to happen, never be afraid to ask and ask again if you don’t understand something.
You certainly don’t want to be having a ANC if you don’t need to. Xx Jo
Thank you for your replies. The other breast nurse phoned me & yes, it’s definite that the ANC is happening. They’re skipping the SNB as tumour is big… I’m really really gutted x
I’m not surprised you are, particularly when your scans don’t indicate any spread .Ive not heard of that before .Maybe you could ask about this in the Ask the Nurses section of the forum ? Shame your surgeon didn’t discuss this properly with you .
Really feel for you. My nodes were all clear on ultrasound too but SNB found one positive node so I am having axillary clearance. I too am gutted as I am only just healing nicely from my mammoplasty on 29th October and I was convinced that all would be ok. This is such a horrible journey for us all and it has only just begun for me and also for you. When is your op?
Thank you for your thoughts.
My op is this Friday. Investigations have taken forever & this final week is whizzing by. It’s such a rollercoaster x
Well i don’t think ive heard of that happening either, we’ve had many ladies here with large tumours but if their nodes are clear then they don’t remove them, I really would be pushing for an explanation before going ahead, ANC brings its own set of problems and in my experience they don’t do it without due cause.
I can imagine how stressed you are right now but you dont have to accept what they say and have every right to question why, it’s certainly not the norm in my experience. Spread to nodes isn’t determined by the size of a tumour and I’ve never come across this way of doing things.
Xx Jo
Thank you!
So I’ve asked lots of questions! It seems like my consultant just prefers to be thorough and go in ‘all guns a blazing’ so to speak.
Anyway, to cut a very long story short I fought my corner, had the dye put in this morning & will having the biopsy rather than clearance tomorrow.
I’m having chemo regardless & am prepared for the ANC if I need it, but not if I don’t! (Evie, I’ll definitely call on you if I need to, thank you!)
Thank you for all your support, it’s been really helpful x
Well done Bluetit , it’s your body and you have the right to be part of these decisions - keeping everything crossed for cancer free nodes tomorrow !!!
Good for you bluetit! That’s a step to far by way of “just in case” considering they have the means to check your nodes before doing an ANC , it may well be that you do need one but so far everything is pointing towards you not! Worries me that consultants think they can go ahead and do these things and not everyone would question it ?
Im glad you asked us and we’ve all given you reason enough to question it, of course we all want rid of our cancer and would do whatever is nessecary but no one wants to go through a procedure they don’t need, all the best with your op and I hope you get the best outcome Xx Jo
Hi everyone,
I’m sad to say that my results are now back - I had 3 out of 4 lymph nodes positive and so need to go back to surgery this week for full clearance.
I’m totally gutted & hoped it wouldn’t come to this, despite knowing it was a real possibility.
What a Christmas! Xxxx
so sorry to hear that but you can do it. Think I will probably be joining you. xx
Daisydi- please keep us posted. Hoping everything is as straight forward as possible for you.
Evie- Your message is so comforting. Thank you.
I feel such a loss about the ANC, so when I’m able I’ll also contact the lymphedema society. Great idea. I will be back in contact after surgery.
Thank you both for your support x
Sorry to hear your news Bluetit - fingers crossed you are home and comfortable by Christmas .
So Bluetit I will be joining you fo a full node clearance not sure if it will be Dec or the first week of Jan. I am also having a third re excision as one of my margins was 1mm short. I really didnt want this either. I also have the option of total mx but dont think I can deal with this as well. Let me know how you get on