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Breast Cancer (Expert Forum)
Many nodes positive
Questions posted in the Breast Cancer Forum are answered by medical professionals from The Cleveland Clinic. Topics include Breast Biopsy, Chemotherapy, Hormone Therapy, Lumps, Lumpectomy, Lymph node dissection, Lymphedema, Mammograms, Mastectomy, Radiation Therapy, Reconstruction, Self Breast Exam, and Surgery.
Many nodes positive
by seven7, Oct 01, 2002 12:00AM
I thank you for answering all my previous questions! Now, here I am with another one. Hope there is not a limit to the number of questions asked.
The posts I read her all mention a small number of removed node that are positive. My surgeon removed 15 nodes from me during mastectomy of one breast. 14 of them showed positive. That is a large number. How can I be sure that the lone good node was just before other good ones? In other words, how can I know that there are not more bad positive nodes that were not removed? All my ex-rays and scans after the mastectomy were clear.
And this news that there has been a recent change in the staging has me confused. I was told by my Oncologist that I was a stage 3. He did not say anything about a three A , B or C. I have had 6 chemos and will have 2 more, radiation then the "pill" for 5 years. I am doing well. Will this new staging change my treatments? Thanks for your answer.
The posts I read her all mention a small number of removed node that are positive. My surgeon removed 15 nodes from me during mastectomy of one breast. 14 of them showed positive. That is a large number. How can I be sure that the lone good node was just before other good ones? In other words, how can I know that there are not more bad positive nodes that were not removed? All my ex-rays and scans after the mastectomy were clear.
And this news that there has been a recent change in the staging has me confused. I was told by my Oncologist that I was a stage 3. He did not say anything about a three A , B or C. I have had 6 chemos and will have 2 more, radiation then the "pill" for 5 years. I am doing well. Will this new staging change my treatments? Thanks for your answer.
Doctor's Answer
by CCF-RN,MSN-rf, Oct 01, 2002 12:00AM
Dear seven7: When doctors do mastectomy with lymph node dissection, the lymph nodes that are removed are contained in a portion of tissue called the "fat pad." The number of lymph nodes in this tissue can vary widely (15 is an average number). There are additional lymph nodes in the under arm but these are not removed because you need them for lymphatic drainage. There is no guarantee that all the remaining nodes are free of disease. It only means that of the 15 removed, 14 are positive. The chemotherapy is designed to address any remaining cancer cells. This new staging will have absolutely no impact on your current treatment. You are getting the gold standard therapy by my estimation.
Member Comments (2)
by pbh, Oct 25, 2002 12:00AM
Just a note of encouragement. I had 19 positive nodes of 27 removed, and am still doing well over two years after diagnosis. My oncologist said, "We have many women with more lymph nodes than you who are ten years out and doing great." I also know two people, one with 17 and 22 positive nodes who are two and three years out and doing great the last I heard.
