Hi everyone,
I just wanted to know if anyone can explain about what they mean when they say you have possible lympho-vascular invasion. I am confused because my lab reports said that no lymph nodes where involved so why does it also say possible lympho-vascular invasion. I understand a little about the vascular part but why does it mention lympho?
Also does this mean that it is more likely to recur or that I am more likely to get secondaries. I also understand that it is worse because I was 45 when dx, 46 now, why is this. As you can see I am torturing myself with all this.
If I mention these fears to certain friends or relations they say I am dwelling on it too much, and I need to get back to work so I do not have time to think, however I feel that I need to think about these things. This is why I have found the forum so helpful, everybody is very supportive and I do not get comments like, “oh, are we back on the subject of cancer again”.
best wishes
Dawne
Hi Dawne
Breast Cancer Care have published a booklet which may help you to understand your pathology/lab report, you can read it via the following link:
breastcancercare.org.uk/docs/pathology___feb_08_0.pdf
There is information about lymphovascular invasion on page 14 of the booklet, please call our specialist nurses on the helpline if you need further clarification on the terms used in your personal lab report, the number to ring is 0808 800 6000 Mon-Fri 9am-5pm and Sat 9am-2pm.
Best wishes
Lucy
Hi Lucy
I cannot seem to get the link to work, any ideas.
Dawne
Hi Lucy
Ignore my last message I have managed to find it now, thanks
Dawne
Hi Dawne,
I have to say that your friends seem to be a touch insensitive - I can’t believe that some people would say to a person who is undergoing treatment for cancer “not to dwell on things” and that “they should go back to work, so they don’t have time to think about things”. A cancer dianognis and subsequent treatment turns a person’s life upside down and changes you so much - I don’t think I will ever to the same person I was before being diagnosed - how can you be? It is perfectly normal to have fears about the future and it really annoys me when people won’t let someone talk about these very real fears. It is so, so important to talk as I believe it helps to come to terms with the massive changes currently going on in your life and which you will continue to go through after your treatment has finished etc. It is your life after all and the one thing a cancer diagnosis does is put a question mark over your future. I have days where I am absolutely petrified that I will not be here in five years to see my three year old daughter grow up and if I didn’t have people around me who allowed me to relay these fears, I think I would find these thoughts a lot more overwhelming and unbearable. At the cliche goes “it’s good to talk” and never is a phrase more appropriate than for someone who has had a cancer diagnosis. Gook luck Dawne and best wishes, Jacqui
HI Dawne. I had some lympho vascular invasion around my tumour, although the lymph nodes were clear. It is not at all unusual but does mean that there is the possibility of cancer cells having spread through either the lymph vessels or vascular system to other parts of the body (the vessels are too tiny to tell which are which apparently). Some people consider LVI as being equivalent to a positive lymph node. It is one of the factors that is considered when deciding what treatment you need. In my case, because I was premenopausal, had lympho-vascular invasion, and several Grade 3 tumours I had chemotherapy. The idea with chemotherapy is that it will “mop up” any cancer cells that might have gone to other parts of the body, so works a bit like an insurance policy as you don’t know if they are there or not! The pros and cons of chemo are weighed up depending on the individual situation and risk factors. Did you have it? Of course you need to be able to talk about and think about everything you have been through, and if your family and friends don’t feel comfortable with these conversations then perhaps you can phone BCC, or you know you can always get lots of support here, and that we understand just what it is like living with a diagnosis of breast cancer, and the niggling doubts that continue in your mind even after treatment. Do you have a breast cancer nurse that you can phone specifically about this? Good luck. Sarah
HI Dawne
Seabird is spot on, I work in the histopathology Dept where I was diagnosed and the Consultant I work for explained it to me. Lymphovascular invasion or lymphovascular space invasion as they like to call it is where there are like tiny spider legs off the tumour (sorry hard to explain) rather than just a tumour so it means that they can break off to the lymph system but doesn’t mean they definitely will, it just means that your tumour has got wiggly bits attached to it.
With regards to age, apparently the younger you are (I was 31 when diagnosed) the quicker your cells grow. But speaking to Herceptin nurses they say sometimes it is better as any treatment you are given can break through the cancer cells of the tumour easier than older tumours (in older patients) that have taken years to grow. I hope this makes sense.
I hope this helps.
Mandyxxx
Hi Jacqui, Sarah and Mandy
Thanks to all of you for helping me understand. I think that the bit about the wiggly bits attached to my tumour has meant I can picture it better and I know what they meant now. I did have chemo because of the lympho vascular invasion as my lymph nodes were clear. When I asked my breast care nurse she just sort of brushed it off and said not to worry (easy for her to say) because it was only a possibility and that the chemo should take care of it.
Until all this, I had never been the type of person who worried, although I have always thought deeply about things, but now I seem to worry about the slightest thing.
It is good to know that there are so many supportive people out there, although obviously I wish none of us had had this experience in the first place, at least now I have some where I can vent
once again thanks to you all
best wishes
Dawne
Hi Dawne - Good to hear back from you. That’s the same as me then - had the chemo because of the lympho vascular invasion, but had clear nodes. I think we can both be sure that we have had the best possible treatment to mop up anything that may have been lurking. Very best of luck, and hope that you feel more at peace about this now. Vent on, we all know what it’s like! Best wishes Sarah.
HI,
I’m in the same boat…clear lymph nodes but evidence of vascular invasion. I was given my results by BC Nurse who didn’t mention anything about vascular invasion . I then had to wait 6 weeks to see onc re treatment and used the waiting time to do my own research and given size and grade had got myself syked up that I may get away with RADS and hormone therapy. So it came as a bit of a shock when onc said chemo was advisable given the vascular invasion. When I phoned BC Nurse and asked why she hadn’t mentioned VI at the time her reply stunned me. Quote: ‘All tumours have vascular invasion don’t they?’ I was the one who said ,’ actually NO.
I’ve since transferred to a more specialist cancer hospital.
Sarah, was interested in your comment that vascular invasion is seen as equivalent to having one positive node. How did you find this out.?
Hope all is going well with you.
Best wishes Trish
Hi Trish and Dawne
Dawne - Yes, I’m premenopausal, I’m 48. Well, that’s to say, I was before the chemo, had my last period at the end of January, none since. Suffering dreadful hot and cold sweats and oncologist said last week seems likely that I am going through the menopause (started chemo Christmas Eve). I’m just starting radiotherapy now, but at the end of that will be seeing the oncologist again and he has ordered hormone tests to see what stage I’m at, and will then put me on Tamoxifen if I’m premenopausal, or Arimidex if I’m post menopausal, at least, I think that’s the plan!
Trish, it’s more than disconcerting when you have that kind of encounter with one of the professionals! Can imagine how upset you must have been. Sorry to be vague, but I think it was my oncologist who made the comment above. I think the point was that LVI, like a postive node, just means that in theory cancer cells could have spread around the body from the original tumour. But you, and Dawne, and I, have all had chemo for just that reason. As far as I see it, the future is probably very bright for the three of us, by far the likeliest outcome is that we have had cancer, and we have been treated for it, and it won’t recur. That’s the way I’m planning on living my life. If ever I have to face it again I will, but I am not wasting healthy time wondering about “what ifs”, life is far to precious for that. Lifes uncertain in so many ways, most of the time I am thinking how very lucky I am compared to so many others. Good luck. Sarah xx
Hi Girls,just to let you know that I had a lot of vascular invasion with a very aggressive tumour,I’m still NED and feeling well nearly four and a half years down the line!.. That chemo must’ve done a brilliant job!! Josie x