Chemo for lymph nodes

Hi everyone. I’ve had a successful wide excision with clear margins and one lymph node affected. I am waiting on results to see whether chemo will be offered. Has anyone had chemo for one lymph node HER neg? I’m wondering how many cycles etc? Thank you!

Hi,

My mum had the same but micro mets in 1 node and scored 28 on her onco score.

She will be having 8 rounds of chemo, every 2 weeks I think.just to mop up any stray cells. Only received her score on weds, so has an ECG next week and then hopefully will get one round in before Xmas.

Hopefully you will avoid it. It’s very stressful waiting! Wishing you all the best.

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Yes, I had one lymph node positive. Oncotype 26. I was given chemo. Had 3 sessions of EC followed by 3 of docetaxal. Each 3 weeks apart. It’s not pleasant but it’s doable and wasn’t as bad as I feared.

The waiting is horrible. I hope you get the results soon.

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Hey there!

So I’m IDC, ER+, HER-, had WLE and SLNB, right side.

One node cancerous (main sentinel, with macro mets). Removed.

Oncotype score annoyingly unexpectedly highish (39) so straight to chemo after surgery - 3 EC, 3 Docetaxel. Currently on round 2 Docetaxel.

EC was pretty easy going for me, Docetaxel has been harder. First Docetaxel I got quite severe TAPS but my oncologist sorted me out with the correct pain meds and so far, the second blast of Docetaxel (had three days ago) the SEs are much more manageable. I find keeping active really helps me with the bone/muscle/joint pain, obviously taking time to rest loads too! I’m still managing to go to the gym strength training once the infection/nadir window has passed each cycle.

Anyway, hopefully that helps - it’s tough but doable from my experience so far. :heart:

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Thank you for the replies. As is often the case, I wasn’t expecting chemo to be on the cards at all! Has anyone managed to work around the cycles or is that a no go?

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Yep, I’m still pretty much working full time - but work remotely so am fortunate to have flexibility. My company has been absolutely brilliant as well.

I prefer working as it keeps my brain firing but I totally appreciate that if someone has a very physical or completely office/location based role, that it would be a very different experience. For example, one of my colleagues in a different department took 6 months off for treatment instead as that was the best option for her with children.

Everyone is different and you can’t really predict beforehand how you will feel and how treatment will affect you - you need to do what’s right for you but in my experience, I’ve found it manageable. I obviously do take time/days off when needed when I suffer the worst SE days, it’s all a balance really. :hugs:

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Yeah I had chemo after finding a lymph node that had macro mets. I had 3 EC and 9 Paclitaxel. I couldn’t work while on EC because I felt really tired and sickly on it but I did return to work on a flexible working pattern while on Paclitaxel because I had minimal side effects while on that. It really helped me to get back to work because I was spiralling mentally otherwise haha. But, don’t feel like you have to go back to work. Everyone reacts differently to treatment so listen to your body. X

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I work from home in a desk based job. I couldn’t work full time but I was able to at least do a bit of work most days. I found concentration hard. I think it depends what you do and how you react to the chemo. I have heard of people unable to work at all through to people working as normal. Most people seem to be somewhere in the middle.

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:woman_raising_hand:yup , node came back positive which hadn’t been expected so my onco pushed for chemo (pre meno)

Did PROSIGNA test to get out of chemo but i came back intermediate risk so relented and did TC x 4

They wanted me to do EC-T but I felt it was too aggressive for my risk profile

I worked - mainly from home, managed 3 teenagers and still had a life so to spk

Cold cap was “successful” in the sense that I kept 60% of my hair. Loss was mainly thinning & around my hairline (plus one bald patch I could hide) Just needed wide hair bands

chemo is tough but doable

I’m glad I’m on the other side

now on AI, ovarian suppression and Ribociclib

Good luck x

Hi

I had a lumpectomy with one node involvement. Then a full node clearance which were all clear. My oncotype came back has 6 so wasn’t offered chemo.

I had 5 days radiotherapy and I am just over two years on Letzoral preferably for 5 and ideally for 10 years.