False negative Sentinal Node while Lactating?

[cetn]

I was orginally  DX. 2005 age 38 while I was lactating.  Stage 1 Negative Node. Tumor was 1.6 CM.  Left Lumpectomy with Negative Sentinal Node.  Received Chemo FEC.  Half way through Chemo a repeat Mammogram was done and DCIS was found in same Breast that was not seen earlier due to Lactation.  Mastectomy was performed.  Tamoxifan.

Almost 3 years later, I found a small lump in L Axilla.  Biopsy confirmed Breast Cancer.  8 out of 13 nodes positive with a metastatic lesion on T 4 Vertabrae.  Needless to say I am in SHOCK... I saw my Oncologist every 4 months with good reports and good blood work.

I want to know if anyone else out there has had a False Negative Sentinal Node or was Pregnant or Lactating at DX ?  Currently there is nothing in the Literature about Sentinal Nodes and Lactation.  Is this test conclusive in this population of patients?

[lhughes]

I was pregnant at the time of diagnosis, found my lump while breastfeeding our first child.  I had stopped breastfeeding barely 4 weeks before the biopsy.  My sentinal node was positive (1 of 3)...remainder nodes were all negative.... this was done at the time of the mastectomy a week after the biopsy, 5+ cm tumor, ER/PR+, HER2-.  They found DCIS in the remaining breast tissue that was removed.

I'm almost 3 years from diagnosis, 2 years from last chemo treatment.  

I do know that my surgeon was reluctant to do a biopsy during breastfeeding and we were not willing to stop breastfeeding so quickly, although 3 months later I had no choice as I was pregnant again (I had trouble keeping a pregnancy).

Sorry to hear about your recurrance, what is the plan of attack now?

[cetn]

Sorry to hear about another young woman diagnosed  while expecting a new life.
Although, for me it brings a little comfort to know I was not alone when I was DX.  I was 8 months post partum when I found the lump.
You are the first person I have been in contact with who shares that commonality.
As far as my plan currently....  I had an Axillary Node Dissection, Ovaries removed since the tumors were 100% ER Positive, her 2 Negative.  I had a procedure called the Cyberknife that targets just the Tumor on my spine.  I have begun radiation on my left chest wall and am on Femara and receive Zometa once a month.  I will be scanned every 3 months.  

[lhughes]

Ok...gotta be a geek...but COOL! using the Cyberknife!!!

:)

Glad to hear you have a good plan of attack.  I hope it all goes well.  We are not alone in this horrible venture (pregnancy with breast cancer).  I have a friend still undergoing a new treatment at Houston's MD Anderson center for metastatic breast cancer.  She was stage 2 at ~30 weeks, did a lumpectomy, chemo, then a mastectomy.  During radiation they found it had spread to her chest wall and also a spot on her lungs...although I think they may have now reconsidered that spot on her lungs to be something else (brain doesn't work after all that chemo and pregnancy!).  She's having a tough time like you.

I'm so very thankful that at this writing I'm still clear.  I go back in June for another checkup.  There's actually a website called PregnantWithCancer.com that deals with pregnancy and cancer simultaneously.  It's pretty scary to see how many women are dealing with this very thing.  It's been a strange blessing in disguise (for me at least).

Good luck to you and I hope your treatments are successful.  Don't give up hope, though.  And write back if you want to chat.

Lisa