Has anyone forgone sentinel node biopsies?

Posted by cmce @cmce, 6 days ago

I am a newly diagnosed 66-year-old woman. I have IDC 8mm found by a twice-a-year check - one is a mammogram, and the other is an ultrasound (because I can't tolerate MRIs). Both of my sisters have had BC and are doing well now, 6+ years after diagnosis.
It was picked up by ultrasound. My lumpectomy surgery is scheduled for next week. New research shows that women 65 and older with IDC ER+ PR+ Her- and have an axilla ultrasound to look at nodes and all clear there, don't need to have sentinel nodes biopsied during surgery. Here is the original SOUND research and the follow-up done by Dana Faber, Mass General, and Brigham and Women's - with the same results.

I am not having my sentinel nodes biopsied as the markers for my cancer and my age fit.
I am having the onctoype test done on the tumor/tissue. This will decide the best course of treatment.

Has anyone else decided against sentinel biopsy because of this study?

Research:

1. Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy vs No Axillary Surgery in Patients With Small Breast Cancer and Negative Results on Ultrasonography of Axillary Lymph Nodes
The SOUND Randomized Clinical Trial

2. Applying SOUND Trial Results in the Real World: New Study Identifies Appropriate Patients in a Multi-Disciplinary Clinical Practice Abstract: Real World Implications of the SOUND Trial Orlando, FL, April 11, 2024
"Given the similarity of our population to SOUND trial patients, our findings support thoughtful integration of these results into clinical practice,” states Dr. Giannakou. “Working closely with our multidisciplinary colleagues in medical and radiation oncology, we have started to implement this data into practice for select postmenopausal patients with HR+HER2- breast cancer who would have met eligibility criteria for the SOUND trial.”
1 Massachusetts General Hospital/Brigham and Women’s Hospital/Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, 2 Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Breast Cancer Support Group.

@salamander

What did they tell you about oncotype. Just curious! Trying to gather more info.
I had lumpectomy and sentinal node biopsy two all clear. Small tumor 6mm, not taking anti estrogen drug. Having two year post mammogram coming up. Pray or send good thoughts for me. 54 yrs old with 5 kids. Nervous.
My oncotype was 19 percent. If I remember correctly!

Jump to this post

@salamander Wishing you an all clear mammogram and good health!
Checking in with your oncology team in the best way to get answers specifically related to your health.

For general information, this is a quote from breastcancer.org that explains oncotype results.

“The Oncotype DX Breast Recurrence Score Test assigns a Recurrence Score — a number between 0 and 100 — to the early-stage breast cancer. Based on your age, you and your doctor can use the following ranges to interpret your results for early-stage invasive cancer.

For women older than 50 years of age:

Recurrence Score of 0-25: The cancer has a low risk of recurrence. The benefits of chemotherapy likely will not outweigh the risks of side effects.
Recurrence Score of 26-100: The cancer has a high risk of recurrence. The benefits of chemotherapy are likely to be greater than the risks of side effects.

For women age 50 and younger:

Recurrence Score of 0-15: The cancer has a low risk of recurrence. The benefits of chemotherapy likely will not outweigh the risks of side effects.
Recurrence Score of 16-20: The cancer has a low to medium risk of recurrence. The benefits of chemotherapy likely will not outweigh the risks of side effects.
Recurrence Score of 21-25: The cancer has a medium risk of recurrence. The benefits of chemotherapy are likely to be greater than the risks of side effects.
Recurrence Score of 26-100: The cancer has a high risk of recurrence. The benefits of chemotherapy are likely to be greater than the risks of side effects.“

REPLY
Please sign in or register to post a reply.