questions

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1

hi all
i have a couple of questions if anyone can help.dx ILC and IDC stage 2 er/pr neg.i had masc. 04/12 and am now awaiting results.if i have cancer in the nodes will the docs deff. do further screening to see if the cancer has spread.if you dont have cancer in the nodes does this mean it deff. has not spread.many thanks in advance but hubby and i are a little in the dark.results day on 14/12 but was cancelled due to not having results yet
regards karen

2

Dear Karen

Breast Cancer Care have published a Resources Pack which can be ordered on line, it is filled with information to help you better understand your diagnosis, test results and the various treatments available:

breastcancercare.org.uk//content.php?page_id=7514

You may also find our helpline useful to call to help answer some of the questions you have, it is a free and confidential service and is run by specially trained nurses who will listen to your concerns and offer information, advice and support. They are on 0808 800 6000 and open Monday - Friday, 9am - 5pm, Saturday, 9am - 2pm.

Best wishes
Lucy

3

Dear Karen

If any of your lymph nodes have abnormal cells in them the treatment usually involves clearing out the rest of the nodes surgically (if the first op has taken a sample of nodes or involved sentinel node biopsy). The doctors take account how many nodes that are affected in planning your treatment. Chemo is normally offered to all women with lymph node involvement provided who are fit enough to have it. All the evidence I have seen suggests it reduces the chances of cancer coming back, and lengthens the time it takes to recur if it is going to recur, although it does have risks of its own. All the people I spoke to said that for the more serious kinds of cancer the benefits outweigh the risks. Normally when they have done tests on the lumph nodes, they also test for evidence of cancer elsewhere. These tests usually come out clear.

there are people who have clear lymph nodes who also unfortunately get recurrences later, but it is quite a low proportion.

Mole

4

hi mole
many thanks…you have helped clear up some confusion my hubby and i have had over the lymph nodes been affected.i will see what friday brings as far as results go
regards karen

5

Hi Karen

Mole gave a clear explanation. I had a recurrence in my lymphnodes and I was given a total clearence, a CT scan was also given to check for spread (All clear so far).

I hope all goes well for Friday.
Take Care
Carol