Nodes, etc.

Hi, I'm 43 and 14 months out from diagnosis. Biopsy very painful lump in armpit that appeared overnight.  -   infiltrating  IDC 1.0cm @ 3:00 left breast (only seen by MRI).  ER+, PR+ Her2neu -. Grade 3..... Nottingham 9.  Nearly totally necrotic lymph node in armpit.  Bilateral.   23/31 nodes - includes 5/5 nodes in level 2....  No vascular/lymphatic invasion -no cancer spilling over.  Encapsulated.  Other breast - negative biopsy.  Brain MRI and PET negative.   6 -TAC (Taxotere) - tolerated it well ... extensive chest wall radiation... - tolerated it well - tamoxofin started during rads...  then hysterectomy... now taking A.I.  No lymphedema.  No reconstruction at this time.

Is my case unusual (this many nodes).  Most people seem to have zero or just a few.... I feel doomed... and  I can't sleep worrying about my nodal status and recurrence.   Especially the level 2 nodes.  

Also, I had negative mammo at 40 - then calcifications were followed for a year at 6 month intervals with diagnositic screening and ultrasounds....... no biopsy....

Anybody out there with a similiar case??
Thank you in advance...
Jennifer

[Dennis MD]

Hi.
Your case is not unusual.  There are patients who have more positive lymph nodes.  
Since you already underwent treatment (adjuvant chemotherapy, radiotherapy, hormonal therapy), the risk of recurrence is significantly reduced.
What is more important now is to continue surveillance check-ups with your oncologist.
Stay positive always.
Good luck..

[jennifer64]

Thank you.. I now see my onco and rad. onco every 4 months or as needed.  

Recently, I had bloodwork drawn & it was sent to the Mayo Clinic for testing.  It was determined I needed to switch hormonal therapies... from Tamoxifen to an A.I. (currently Arimidex).   Can you please explain - I thought all post menopausal women went on A.I.'s?  

The 5 year survival rates for 3C aren't that exciting.  I think I read on this site 33% from the Cancer Institute - other places I have read more like 50%.   A friend told me the stats take every patient into consideration - regardless of age, if they took/refused treatment, hormonal status, tumor grade, etc.  Is that true?

Jennifer

[Dennis MD]

Hi.
Postmenopausal women can also be given Tamoxifen.
There are clinical trials showing benefit of switching (from Tamoxifen to AIs).  These clinical trials involved 2 years of Tamoxifen before switching to AIs.  There are also clinical trials showing benefit for upfront AIs in postmenopausal women.

[jennifer64]

Do you know anything about the blood test that is sent to the Mayo Clinic?