Lymph Nodes

dlt10960 · New User Joined: 15 Jul 2008 Posts: 2 Location: Georgia

I've been dx with Stage IIIA Invasive Ductal Carcinoma. I've been through 4 rounds of DD AC and 4 rounds of Taxol. On July 2 I had a double mastectomy. In a few weeks I'll begin six weeks of radiation.

At the time of the mastectomy, the surgeon removed a large section of tissue that should have included additional lymph nodes, but none could be found. He said the radiologist checked thoroughly and assumed none could be seen because they were covered with scar tissue from the sentinel node biopsy in February 2008. He said it's highly unlikely that I didn't have nodes in that area, but he didn't feel it warranted additional surgery and didn't feel it would change my prognosis. Has anyone else experienced a situation like this? Does that mean I don't have anymore lymph nodes on that side?

Also, my pathology report reads that extensive angiolymphatic invasion is present and perineural invasion is present. Does anyone know for sure what that means?
_________________
Dx IDC 6x7 cm, 4+ nodes positive, Stage IIIA, ER+PR+HER2- in Jan 08, Finished 4 DD AC, 4 DD Taxol in June 08, Had Bilateral Mastectomy July 08 Future Plans: Radiation, Reconstruction

Cindy · Senior User Joined: 01 Dec 2004 Posts: 178

Hi dlt. I had extensive angiolymphatic invasion and a very poor pathology. It means that the cancer had extensively invaded the lymphatic channels and blood vessels in that area of the cancer. Don't start to panic. I'm still alive and well in my 6th year. No recurrence. My treatment was 4 AC and 4 Taxotere.

The perineural invasion means that the cancer had invaded nerves in the area where the tumor was. I didn't have that listed on my pathology, but I think I had a problem with it through my body, as I was having awful nerve pain that would periodically shoot all through my body and it would feel like what I think being struck with bolts of lightning would feel. The bolts would shoot all down through my arms and into the tips of my fingers. It was very painful. Since chemo, I have not had those bolts run through me and therefore, I attributed them to the cancer.

As for the lymph nodes, sometimes docs take out a section that have one, two, four nodes...sometimes none. It does not mean that you do not have any lymph nodes, it just means that there weren't any in the layer/section that was taken. You didn't say if they took the first, second or third layer. I would think that if scar tissue were covering the nodes, that the pathologist would have made an effort to locate and dissect them.

Wishing you the very best on this difficult journey.
_________________
Where is the cure???
www.truefacesofbreastcancer.org
www.diepbreastreconstruction.org
www.mybreastcancerstore.com
www.habierose.com

dlt10960 · New User Joined: 15 Jul 2008 Posts: 2 Location: Georgia

Thank you for replying. I must admit I had a very hard weekend. Seems like all of my pathology points to bad stuff. The report even mentions there was an adjacent DCIS tumor next to the IDC when it was removed. I feel like if this had gone much further, I wouldn't be here. I can't help but wonder now if there are other tumors developing. I try not to be afraid, but I am. Is there any kind of test a doctor can do to see if there are anymore lymph nodes on that side?
_________________
Dx IDC 6x7 cm, 4+ nodes positive, Stage IIIA, ER+PR+HER2- in Jan 08, Finished 4 DD AC, 4 DD Taxol in June 08, Had Bilateral Mastectomy July 08 Future Plans: Radiation, Reconstruction

	Cancer Forums Forum Index -> Breast Cancer Forum	All times are GMT - 5 Hours
Page 1 of 1

A website for discussions about any type of cancer, including lung cancer, breast cancer, mesothelioma, prostate cancer, laryngeal cancer, leukemia, lymphoma, multiple myeloma and others