Lymph nodes contain cancer AFTER chemo!

I had a 6cm tumour in left breast and detected in lymph nodes too. During chemo (6 x FEC-T ) I had ultrasound scans which appeared to show the chemo doing a fantastic job. However I had my lumpectomy and axcillary node clearance last week in which they were all confident all would be clear as ultrasound and mammogram showed nothing but pathology results have shown disease still scattered in breast and still present in 2 lymph nodes.
Now I need further surgery and a left mascectomy to completely get rid of microscopic cells in left breast … but I’m more worried about lymph node involvement. Anyone else petrified about lymph nodes!? What if already spread microscopic cells before they were removed!??

Hi Emma,

 

i had 12/13 lymph nodes with cancer in. After my initial treatment, I enjoyed about 11/12 cancer free years.

 

all you can do really is to hang in there. Lymph nodes are there specifically to catch things like cancer cells and stop them going round the body, so yours were doing a good job, like mine were. Hopefully, they have caught things early.  Do keep us posted tho, we are all here for you,

 

Moijanxx

Thank you. Did you have 12 months of herceptin and 10 years of tamoxifen before your reoccuence? Xx

No, sadly im Herceptin negative, but I had letrozole for about 7 years and then nothing for a few…then it came back. Am now on Eribulin which seems to be doing the trick. Do let us know how things are going. I will keep an eye out for you …hopefully things will go well for you

 

 

Moijanxx