I have her2- breast cancer a 3cm lump and also a 3cm lump in lymph nodes. I am having chemo first rather than surgery as this is what the surgeon said would be best as it is in my lymph nodes and cells would be floating around my system so it would be best to zap them first (his words) I will then have surgery and radiotherapy. This last week I have been worrying that there is going to be a delay between the end of chemo and the surgery so therefore after chemo there will still be cells floating around my body as there will still be cancer in my lymph nodes. Has anyone else had their treatment this way around when they have had it in lymph nodes too?
I had chemo first and it gives them chance to see if you respond to the treatment, also shrink the tumour to make it easier to operate on. A delay should not make any difference, for me i was clear of cancer by the time i had surgery the chemo completely got rid of it. They operated to make very very sure and I also had rads. Try not to worry.
I also had chemo first I think they are doing this now more often my lymphs were clear but had a rather large lump tc
Hi Sarah,
My situation sounds very similar to yours. I also have a 3cm lump and it is in my nodes. I am due to begin chemo soon as am desperate to zap and kill this and any other evil cells that might float. Then hopefully it will shrink and can be cut out.
Hatty your story is giving me hope. Thank you. I am so afraid of the months ahead. Any advice would be so welcome.
Thank you in advance. Joanna.
It’s quite common now to have chemo first I think. My lymph are affected too and I have chemo just now. Surgeon told me mastectomy will be four weeks after chemo has finished. When you think about it, chemo is every three weeks to give your good cells a chance to recover (bad cancer cells don’t recover as quickly) then one week longer for the op, doesn’t make a difference at all.
Hope this helps and makes sense 
Christine xxx
Joaana please try not to be afraid, it is so doable these days. I kept pretty well all through and i know thats not the case for all, but a positive mind, meditation and loadsa dog walking. Keep busy busy busy and before you know it you are through it. If i can be of any help to you feel free to pm me. Wishing you all the best.
Thanks again Hatty.
You might regret offering that but I really appreciate! I like your story very much. X
Hi Saraf,
I had chemo first too and was worried about the same thing. But my onc, surgeon and BCN all said that the chemo is active in your body for a while after your last one and told me not to worry. I also got a second opinion in Harley Street and told the same. Obviously I still worried!! But it’s very common procedure now and has the benefit of them being sure that you are reacting to the chemo they prescribe. If you were having it the other way round there would be no way to gauge whether your cancer is responding to the chemo so if there were any cells that had escaped you wouldn’t know that the chemo was being effective in killing the escapees.
Hope it all goes well.
x
Thank you ladies I feel better now, my breast lump has shrunk to 1.5cm after 2 chemo sessions (they measured it) it feels like the lymph node one has shrunk but not as much so it is definitely working!.