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13 cancerous lymph nodes not detected on imaging
Breast Cancer | Last Active: Nov 21, 2019 | Replies (11)Comment receiving replies
I have heard from a friend that went to MD Andersen there is a "nuclear" PET scan that is suppose to be better. They have to mix the material and use it within 2 hours. Not sure if Mayo offers this or not. I have never had that type of PET. I had a full axilla node dissection with 50 lymph nodes. Only sentinel node was positive. I understand the normal number of nodes is 25-30. I never had an MRI for breast only ultrasound.
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@jdriver
Surgeons now are re-defining how many nodes are taken. At my local medical center they take many lymph nodes whilst where I went for my surgery (Oakland, CA), the surgeon believed less is more as the more you take the more likely for lymphedema. I, myself, undergo PET scan now every 6 months as the second lesion found on MRI is more aggressive and can show up any time, anywhere. The second lesion is neuroendocrine cancer which is rare, although it is being found more and more as pathologists start using the proper dyes. I am grateful every day that I requested breast MRI as I was concerned following my first lumpectomy which showed invasive ductal cancer that "what if my cancer is in the other breast." My surgeon agreed and that is where we found this second aggressive lesion in the same breast. Had I not pushed for this, my outcome would be quite a different result. Never stop being your own advocate.