Hi Guys
I’m currently having chemo, but due to start rads when we’re done. I had WLE and ANC in Oct.
At the time the consultant said that the point of the ANC was to avoid rads to armpit and to reduce probability of lymphodema. Have since discovered that I only had 8 nodes removed, one of which showed signs of cancer.
I haven’t asked yet, guess I’m a bit scared of the answer, but do you think they’ll now give rads to my arm pit?
Cheers
Ang xx
I had nine nodes removed (one of which was positive)four years ago.As my BC was particulary aggressive I had six weeks of radio to the armpit as well.I can honestly say I’ve never had a problem with mobility.I’ve carried on with heavy work almost from day one and haven’t had lymphoedema either.The inconvenience of the daily hospital visits was the worst thing about it.My skin did get a bit red and itchy and my shoulder started to hurt during treatment -probably because I was having to hold my arm at an angle above my head.About two months later I developed bursitis in my shoulder but after a short course of anti-inflamatories it hasn’t returned. Don’t worry Ang, it’s no big deal.Just take whatever treatment they throw at you.They seem to know what they are doing and it’s certainly worked for me.
Regards from Josie x
I’m just about finished my course of radiotherapy… 25 to the whole breast area, then 4 boosters targetted on the area where the tumour was removed. I had 18 lymph nodes removed, but thankfully they were all clear, but have had no radiotherapy focussing on the lymph nodes area… Everyone seems to have a different regime, and you can only presume / hope that the professionals know what’s best for you…
Good luck… It’s a breeze compared to the chemo… 
AliS
Hi Ang
Similar situation to you.
I’m about to begin rads and I had my lymph nodes removed (one had cancer) and so kept questioning why I wasn’t having rads to my armpit. The answer being that it was not necessary and would cause more harm than good i.e. lymphodema and that the lymph nodes have been removed now and so I do not qualify for it in that area. It does bother me but I’ve asked quite a few times now and the answer never changes. It does make me feel slightly nervous that I’m not having it there.
Ruby x
Ruby,
I think you only have rads and clearance if you have over a certain number of nodes positive, I think. I had both because i had 6 /14 positive including level 3.
The chances of getting lymphoedema if you have both is over 25%. I developed it about 6 weeks after finishing treatment.
Kelley
Kelley
So sorry to hear you developed lymphodema. I kind of understand why I’m not having rads to armpit area but it still makes me nervous but they must know what they are doing. It was a bit like when I had chemo (6 lots) and some people had 8 and I wondered if I should be having 8 as well.
Ruby
Hi
I had rads to 3 areas, chest wall, armpit and collarbone area, I had mastectomy + FNC and my results showed 15/20 nodes postive in all 3 levels, hence the extra rads + 8 chemos rather than 6.
I finished rads Oct 06 and have no signs of lymphodema, however I am very aware and do look after my surgery side but really feel its another case of bad luck as to who gets it.
Debbie
HI
I’m the same as Debbie - will be having rads to chest wall, armpit & neck/collarbone area. Have had mastectomy and 3 of 4 chemos so far, with another 4 chemo’s after rads - had lymph node involvement of 5/11.
Margaret x
Hi
I’m half way through Rads, mostly to armpit area as had Chemo first then ops and though cancer had gone from Breast was still in 21of 24 nodes.
Val
I’ve just finished 15 rads (following mastectomy and axillary clearance plus chemo) to the chest wall only. This was because I had just one positive node out of 17.
xxx
I have my last rads tomorrow after chemo and mastectomy. Rads are to the Chest wall, armpit & neck/collarbone, as i had 9 nodes positive out of 16
I had 7 nodes removed all of which were negative. I did have an inter-mammory node which contained cancer cells. I am having rads to my armpit, breast, neck/collarbone area and one from the back.
Due to the inter-mammory node they had a discussion as to whether I was node positive or not - the majority decision was that I was not node positive and as such they decided against chemo. I was a bit unnerved about this but they assured me that rads (25 plus 4 boosters to the tumour site) and tamoxifen was sufficient - they are referring to it as a belts and braces approach.
I have decided that I need to just trust the professionals and beleive that they know what’s best for me.