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Original poster

Who knows anything about removal of lymph nodes - scared to google it....................

27 replies

Aero · 03/09/2007 23:15

Not for me, but close family member. Got results back of lumpectomy today and they need to do more surgery now and treat with radiotherapy after. Anyone got any experience? Please.......

OP posts:
Tamum · 03/09/2007 23:18

It's usually for diagnostic purposes- they look to see if there is any sign of cancerous cells in the lymph nodes, and then can judge how aggressive they need to make the treatment. Are you OK?

Original poster
Aero · 03/09/2007 23:23

I'm ok Tamum, but it was all a bit overwhelming today when we went for results. Said family member is very shocked and scared and angry etc and tbh, it's been a bit of a crap day and I've been irritable all afternoon with the dc. I'm frightened for her and we weren't expecting this really as they thought taking out the lump would be the end of it.

I guess we won't know any more then until after the op, despite all the hope they try to give us. We were originally told the cancer was 'curable', so a false hope, it seems, so harder to believe them this time.

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Pruners · 03/09/2007 23:24

Message withdrawn

Tamum · 03/09/2007 23:26

Oh Aero, I am sorry. I don't think it's false hope just because they are doing this, FWIW. It's very rare for breast tumours to be treated only by surgery, but it doesn't mean they are incurable. You're right that they will be able to tell you more after the op though. I have to go to bed now but I will check again tomorrow. Hope you manage to get some sleep.
xx

Original poster
Aero · 03/09/2007 23:32

Thanks tamum. . Appreciate it.

Do they operate first then and scan after? Pruners? Is your dh ok?

Also, will she be able to look after shortly herself afterwards, as I understand her arm will be out of action for a while?

I think she thinks there's no hope, but it's early days. There'll be a lot more to-ing and fro-ing to the hospital now I guess. Trying to keep positive and hopefully it will rub off on the patient.

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TellusMater · 03/09/2007 23:40

My mum had this after a lumpectomy. She also had radiotherapy. 8 years down the line all is well. She sometimes has to wear a pressure bandage on her arm because of swelling, but that's not too much to deal with considering .

Pruners · 03/09/2007 23:43

Message withdrawn

Original poster
Aero · 03/09/2007 23:52

Thanks Pruners and TellusMater. That's good to know. Yes, I agree with you re older generation. It's MIL - didn't want to say before - feels like I'm disclosing personal information, despite none of them knowing my mn name etc. Dh is devastated and working away this week. His dad died of cancer, so it's hard for him to be hopeful at this time. I'll be the one doing most of the dealing with things simply on a geographical front - she lives locally to us. SIL is an hour or so away, BIL is 2.5 hrs away and other SIL is in Africa! I a SAHM, so can do appts etc, but it gets tricky to fit it all in around school runs and holidays. Had to bring dd and ds2 for results today!

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hellobello · 04/09/2007 10:04

Hi Aero. I had a breast lump removed a few weeks ago and I've just been diagnosed with breast cancer. It's a shock and it has been a pretty hairy few days. If they are going to treat with further surgery and radiotherapy it sounds as though it could be the same diagnosis as me. It's called DCIS, and with the treatment it is curable. There's lots of information and support at the Breast Cancer Care website.

I don't know yet what they will find when they operate, and then I have to start making decisions about what to do next - whether to have a full masectomy, or if they can get away with just taking out a bit more boob, and if I have my whole boob lopped off, whether to have reconstructive surgery.

There are breast cancer support groups which really can help. I think it is important to get as much help and support during treatment as you can!

Nip · 04/09/2007 10:11

I'm not sure how much help this is, but i had to have a lymph node removed from my neck. There were some scans etc but nothing too bad. The tumour was sent away for analysis and came back all ok.

HTH

Original poster
Aero · 04/09/2007 11:22

Thank you for posting hellobello. I'm sorry you're having to go through this too. They said something about having a clear margin and that the lymph nodes are a transport system for cancer etc, but it was hard to understand exactly what they meant. They also sait that chemo wasn't a method of treatment for this type of cancer - I'm not sure if that still stands as things are now, but I assume so. For some reason, losing her hair is MIL's worst fear!! I'm taking her on Friday to talk things over with a breast care nurse. She doesn't want to go, but we're trying to persuade her that it's a good thing to talk it over with someone who know what they're talking about and deals with people with the same fears on a daily basis.

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Original poster
Aero · 04/09/2007 11:23

Thanks too nip.

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Original poster
Aero · 04/09/2007 17:05

I've looked it up on the BCC site and things look a little more positive. I think it is DCIS MIL was diagnosed with IIRC. it's just a huge and shocking thing to take in. I haven't been able to bring myself call MIL today, but I will tonight when the dc are in bed.

We lost a friend last year to breast cancer though, so it's hard to reassure MIL when I have little knowledge and when you're sitting in the doctor's office receiving results, you just lose all train of thought and the ability to ask questions.

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Original poster
Aero · 04/09/2007 18:29

bump - just feeling sorry for myself (well, MIL and dh really).

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hellobello · 04/09/2007 19:02

is the breast cancer care website. There's lots of helpful stuff on it and it'll help you find the language to deal with it and help you to find the right questions. I hope it goes well for you and your MIL. Anything to help your MIL is useful.

hellobello · 04/09/2007 19:03

Sorry, I meant to write: anything to help your MIL relax is useful.

Original poster
Aero · 04/09/2007 21:16

Thanks hellobello. My MIL is really rather special. Just hope dh can cope......

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Snowstorm · 04/09/2007 21:36

My mother had a small lump removed from one breast recently as a shadow had shown up on one of her routine mammograms. She also had some lymph nodes removed from her armpit at the same time which I was lead to believe is pretty much a matter of course. In two days time she meets the consultant who'll talk her through the results of the operation and what grade of cancer she has/had and further treatment required etc. We know that regardless of what he says the basic minimum will be 3 weeks of radiotherapy, 5 times a week once the scars from her operation have healed.

That's all I know at the moment. We were all very shocked to discover all this (particularly as my mother's younger sister went through exactly the same thing just a matter of days beforehand) but we've all stayed remarkably calm about it all (which is unusual in our family!) because we have been lead to believe that the lump was detected early on (thank god for routine mammograms), it has been removed, there'll be radiotherapy treatment just to ensure that all the nasty cells have gone ... and then, we very much hope and pray, that will be that. We'll know more on Thursday but that's what we're working on for now.

As a matter of course my mother met with a cancer nurse (before she'd even had the results of the 'lumpsectomy' actually) and she found it to be of great value from the point of view of being able to talk to an experienced non-family member; getting the information she needed; and, walking away with a telephone number of someone she could call pretty much anytime if she or any member of the family had any questions. From what she said, I can't recommend highly enough contact with one of these nurses, it really helped her and therefore made us all feel calmer.

I very much hope that things get clarified for your MIL and that the outlook is good.

Best wishes.

Original poster
Aero · 04/09/2007 21:40

Reading through that site, it says that generally speaking, lymph nodes do not need to be removed for this type of cancer, so I'm wondering why in MIL's case hers do. The doctor did say something about finding something more invasive, but I can't find any relevant info specifically regarding removal of lymph nodes and exactly (in plain English) why it is necessary.

I just don't have a good feeling about the whole thing.

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Original poster
Aero · 04/09/2007 21:46

x posts Snowstorm. Thank-you for that. That sounds pretty much like what is happening with MIL. It is rather shocking isn't it? How I'm going to manage getting her to and from the hospital daily, I don't know, but I'm sure it will work out and hopefully other family members will take time out to help. We're closest, but the only ones with young children to worry about!

It's all such a muddle in my mind. I even clean forgot to take ds1 and dd for their eye tests today, so that'll be another grovelling expedition to do to the optician!! I hate it when people miss appts and now I've done it myself so feeling badly about that too!

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hellobello · 05/09/2007 10:50

I told my gp about what had happened and that I was recieving some complimentary help. Both she and the surgeon said that it may be useful, but to do it alongside the main treatment. The thing is, nobody knows quite why people get ill, and quite what makes them better. Bedside manner is REALLY important!

I haven't really started looking into where to get one-sided bras, or whether prosthetic boobs can stick while you swim, or if an implant is the most suitable way forward.

The worst thing is not knowing. Are you near a good cancer unit?

ska · 05/09/2007 10:57

alo on the BCC site there is a link to the Lavender Trust which is specifically for 'younger women' (under 50 I think) set up to focus on issues for them. It's very helpful.
good luck

Original poster
Aero · 05/09/2007 11:35

A lovely lady I know has had breast cancer. She was only 27 or so when she was first diagnosed. She's a remarkable person and well over a decade later, she's still going strong and now has three children. She has had reconstructive surgery as the prosthetic boob was giving her bother. I don't think she's been totally problem free, but is generally well, looks great and is a great inspiration to any other woman going through similar problems. She's very easy to talk to, so I might give her a call to help reassure MIL once we know a bit more about what's going on.

I'm not sure if there's agood cancer unit locally as I have no experience of it. Would the breast cancer care nurses know anything about that?

Also, are macmillan nurses there for anyone who has cancer, or more to give palliative care to the terminally ill?

I agree with you re bedside manner hellobello.

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lalaa · 05/09/2007 11:46

Macmillan do quite a bit more than just fund nurses - you might find that there's a cancer information and support unit at the hospital (ours is funded by macmillan). If you have one, pop in - very helpful. I think the Macmillan nurses are best known for palliative care - certainly, your best port of call at the moment is the breast care nurse.

MrsMarvel · 05/09/2007 11:52

My father had his removed and there have been a lot of side-effects with swelling. He has to get them drained regularly with massage and has to wear a pressure bandage.