Connect
lymph node resectioning
This is not a question but a reply to naturegirl about my concern of doctors not wanting to remove more cancerous lymph nodes. She asked for me to share reasons for this from my oncologist:
When asked why they refuse to resection cancerous lymph nodes, the doctor spelled it out very clearly and completely. To summarize
(1) Lymph node resection typically occurs during initial surgery (e.g., hysterectomy, breast surgery), and typically the sentinel nodes. They are removed for staging purposes.
(2) Nodes further along or up the chain from the sentinel nodes get more difficult to remove, as you’re going deeper, as I understand it. This can lead to unwanted injuries to other organs or tissues, and lymphedema, and ergo, an increase morbidity.
(3) Removing affected lymph nodes does not necessarily help reduce cancer risk, since lymph nodes aren’t as effective at filtering all cancer cells; some escape. And, while lymph nodes are excellent filters for bacteria and hold (or sends) it off to the immune system to deal with, cancer cells look very much like regular cells to the immune system, so they’re not attacked. [This underscores the necessity for chemo and targeted therapy treatments]
(4) There is little (no?) evidence that resectioning lymph nodes extends the survival rate of cancer patients. See note (3)
(5) And finally, when asked why patients report having several lymph nodes removed, or go in for a second round or resectioning, the doctor said (of some [no all] surgeons working in the U.S.) that income motivates doctors to do it. Unfortunately, these doctors will do what the patients ask without telling them the risks involved.
Like
Helpful
HugInterested in more discussions like this? Go to the Gynecologic Cancers Support Group.
Connect
@cookercooker Thank you for coming back and sharing what your oncologist told you. Did you find this information helpful for you and for your ongoing care?
I learned from my gyn/oncologist, my surgeon, in 2019 when I had a radical hysterectomy that sentinel lymph node removal at the time of my hysterectomy was relatively new at that time. Sentinel node removal has been done for breast cancer for many years. My surgeon told me that as recently as 2018 gyn oncology surgeons at Mayo Clinic were removing an entire section of pelvic lymph nodes on both sides that were examined for cancer along with all the other organs and tissue removed during the hysterectomy.
My sentinel nodes that were removed in 2019 showed no signs of cancer. These sentinel nodes, by the way, are sent immediately to pathology during surgery while you are still asleep and on the table. The pathologist quickly examines these sentinel nodes and then gets back to the surgeon. If cancer is found then the internal pelvic lymph glands are removed.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionThanks for that.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
2 ReactionsAs far as how many nodes were removed during hysterectomy, I would have to look back at my report. But if I remember correctly, it was only one sentinel node. Ct scans showed many more affected lymph nodes tho.
@cookercooker I hope what I wrote yesterday was helpful for you. My surgeon removed two sentinel nodes. One on each side.
I think that the information you shared in this original post will be helpful to others and I will refer to it when these questions come up. Thank you.
My surgeon removed three sentinel nodes on each side, a total of six. They all came back negative.
that's terrific news.