ILC w/1 lymph node cancerous. Standard not to radiate lymph area?

I am wondering if you had a mastectomy, and if you had an Oncotype test indicating hormonal meds would be beneficial. Did the radiologist give a reason?

It is true for all of us that no doctor can assure us that no cancer cells got to other parts of our body. I wonder if that is what the radiologist meant or if there was a more serious reason for them to say that.

I had lymphovascular invasion, which I have read is sometimes equivalent to one positive node, and didn't have radiation. My diagnosis was 8 1/2 years ago.

I had lymphovascular invasion too. I had one Sentinel node positive so they removed all my armpits lymph nodes as precaution. I didn’t have radiation either. The standard is you’ll have 3 and plus lymph node positive to “qualify” for radiation. Both my Oncologist and Radiation Oncologist said I won’t get much benefit to receive radiation.

Have you suffered from lymphedema as a result of having all of the lymph nodes under your arm pits removed? Do you wear a compression vest and/or arm compression? Cancer returned in the form of two tumors at each end of the lymph node incision. I have been told the surgeon will only perform surgery to remove the rest of my breast when I agree to have all remaining lymph nodes removed, although they are all healthy. (Ten were removed when I had a lumpectomy.)

I am wondering if you had a mastectomy, and if you had an Oncotype test indicating hormonal meds would be beneficial. Did the radiologist give a reason?

It is true for all of us that no doctor can assure us that no cancer cells got to other parts of our body. I wonder if that is what the radiologist meant or if there was a more serious reason for them to say that.

I had lymphovascular invasion, which I have read is sometimes equivalent to one positive node, and didn't have radiation. My diagnosis was 8 1/2 years ago.

Your post is encouraging. Thank you! I had a pea sized mass removed along with 3 lymph nodes. On was cancer. I think she may have said that because it is an invasive lobular cancer that is known to travel. Although she said the fact that I am older (66yo) female and I have breast leaves me open to having cancer in the other breast. My oncotype score was 18 and I am trying the 3rd hormone blocker. So many side effects effect my brain. Makes it difficult to do my job. I have been complaining that I don’t feel well since after lumpectomy (Jan 2023) and radiation (April 2013) . They had started me on tamoxifen and they assumed the side effects of the drug was why. Finally in June she was tired of my complaining and my oncologist transferred me to another oncologist in the hospital that handles “more difficult cases.” Made me feel awful being dumped like that. Before she referred me she ordered a bone and brain scan because she wanted prove to me it was the side effects of the hormone blockers. I saw my new oncologist on Monday this week. She wasn’t sure why I was on her schedule so we discussed trying a new hormone blocker and we’re going to end appt when it dawned on me I had never gotten the results of the bone scan. My memory is not good on these hormone blockers. I asked for the results. She tried to tell me that the results had been discussed with me. She started reviewing the report and than stated with shock in her eyes and voice. “You have a spot on your bone above your knee. We need to get you to xray. I’ll get the results to you rt away. “ she walked out and a nurse walked in and escorted me to X-ray. I heard nothing Tuesday and by wed at 3pm I was frustrated and called. Left a VM that I would like to hear the results of the X-ray. After 5pm a message appeared in the hospital portal telling me I have an endochondroma in femur and within it is a chondrosarcoma. I didn’t know what either was. I tried calling but they were closed so I went to my friend google which doesn’t always have accurate data and I found that what I have is bone cancer. Late at night with no one to talk too. I cried. I called the oncologist the next morning and waited all day. I finally got a call at about 5pm. No apology for the way they delivered the news no compassion for what they had put me through. The nurse that called said that the other nurse that sent that message had misspoken as I still need a biopsy to confirm but they are 90% certain it’s cancer. I am devastated and deeply hurt because of the lack of compassion I experienced from my care team during this time in my life. I was told I needed to find an orthopedic surgeon so I ask that they send a referral to Mayo Clinic. This morning (Friday) They sent a piece of paper to Mayo but no images or reports and Mayo can’t schedule me or even accept me until they see these images and reports so I wait and I wait some more. Im 66 and after this week I feel 100yo. Thank you for listening. I needed to get this off my chest.

Your post is encouraging. Thank you! I had a pea sized mass removed along with 3 lymph nodes. On was cancer. I think she may have said that because it is an invasive lobular cancer that is known to travel. Although she said the fact that I am older (66yo) female and I have breast leaves me open to having cancer in the other breast. My oncotype score was 18 and I am trying the 3rd hormone blocker. So many side effects effect my brain. Makes it difficult to do my job. I have been complaining that I don’t feel well since after lumpectomy (Jan 2023) and radiation (April 2013) . They had started me on tamoxifen and they assumed the side effects of the drug was why. Finally in June she was tired of my complaining and my oncologist transferred me to another oncologist in the hospital that handles “more difficult cases.” Made me feel awful being dumped like that. Before she referred me she ordered a bone and brain scan because she wanted prove to me it was the side effects of the hormone blockers. I saw my new oncologist on Monday this week. She wasn’t sure why I was on her schedule so we discussed trying a new hormone blocker and we’re going to end appt when it dawned on me I had never gotten the results of the bone scan. My memory is not good on these hormone blockers. I asked for the results. She tried to tell me that the results had been discussed with me. She started reviewing the report and than stated with shock in her eyes and voice. “You have a spot on your bone above your knee. We need to get you to xray. I’ll get the results to you rt away. “ she walked out and a nurse walked in and escorted me to X-ray. I heard nothing Tuesday and by wed at 3pm I was frustrated and called. Left a VM that I would like to hear the results of the X-ray. After 5pm a message appeared in the hospital portal telling me I have an endochondroma in femur and within it is a chondrosarcoma. I didn’t know what either was. I tried calling but they were closed so I went to my friend google which doesn’t always have accurate data and I found that what I have is bone cancer. Late at night with no one to talk too. I cried. I called the oncologist the next morning and waited all day. I finally got a call at about 5pm. No apology for the way they delivered the news no compassion for what they had put me through. The nurse that called said that the other nurse that sent that message had misspoken as I still need a biopsy to confirm but they are 90% certain it’s cancer. I am devastated and deeply hurt because of the lack of compassion I experienced from my care team during this time in my life. I was told I needed to find an orthopedic surgeon so I ask that they send a referral to Mayo Clinic. This morning (Friday) They sent a piece of paper to Mayo but no images or reports and Mayo can’t schedule me or even accept me until they see these images and reports so I wait and I wait some more. Im 66 and after this week I feel 100yo. Thank you for listening. I needed to get this off my chest.