Lymph nodes out?

I'm having a TLH/BSO (ovaries are coming out, too) on 3/24/11 and my docs have already told me that if they find any cancer cells, they'll be changing that to a TAH/BSO plus removing my lymph nodes.

I just assumed that's because of the cancer, but a friend of mine who also had a cancer diagnosis. So I was wondering -- should I be putting up a fight to keep my lymph nodes?

Checking lymph nodes can give them the staging info they need to see if you need chemo and/or radiation. Sometimes there are surprises and nodes are involved. However, I had endometrial cancer and no nodes removed because it hadn't gone too far into the uterus yet---but some GYN oncologists take them (would have taken mine) in all staging surgeries. So, most GYN oncologists would take them with an endometrial ca diagnosis, and I'm not sure about the other GYN cancers but I think that's true for them, too. As long as its for ca, probably good to go with it. BTW, my GYN told me, also, that staging surgery had to be TAH, but I found out it could be davinci laparoscopic with a trained GYN onc, so that's something to consider. My GYN just didn't know the less invasive technique so that's why he told me it wasn't possible. At any rate I hope you indeed are not going to need staging. Best wishes for an easy surgery.

My regular GYN and my GYN oncologist are actually tag-teaming on my procedure, which is great. My GYN is king of the laproscopic procedure, but my GYN oncologist must think he needs room to work if he has to go after the lymph nodes. I do trust these guys, though. They have great reputations, they'll be doing the procedure in a hospital where in the past I've received excellent care, and I just feel like I'm going to be in good hands.

Which doesn't mean I'm not a blithering morass of nerves who's constantly reaching for the Xanax bottle. Just sayin'!

My gyn-oncologist thought he'd be able to get a better look around inside with Davinci than he would with abdominal. That may have been influenced my my size - I'm very overweight and carry most of it in the abdomen. But I think it also has a lot to do with which procedure the doctor is most experienced with. He did warn me ahead of time that if he couldn't see what he needed to, he might have to open me up.

Feeling confident in your doctor(s) and hospital is probably more important than which procedure you get, but the recovery from laparoscopic surgery is much easier.

He only took 3 lymph nodes and they all came back clear. Since then, I've heard from lots of other women who had 10+ nodes taken and I'm nervous that I didn't.

My understanding is that checking the lymph nodes is one of the most important things they do if cancer is present. The lymph system is one of the primary ways cancer spreads.

Did your doctor also mention a pelvic wash? That's another procedure they usually do to see if the cancer has spread.

Waiting for my surgery and the path report afterwards was the hardest part of this whole journey. I'm glad you've got the Xanax to help.

Good luck with everything. Keep us posted on how you're doing.

My gyn/onc only took a few lymph nodes as well. There doesn't seem to be a defined number, but I'm sure they won't take more than they feel necessary. (((HUGS)))

I had staging surgery with 9 lymph nodes out and BSO with DaVinci (robotic minimally invasive) surgery. We knew going into surgery that I had endometrial adenocarcinoma because it was diagnosed during a D & C for a thickened uterine lining and postmenopausal bleeding. Staging surgery and BSO does not have to be abdominal.

If it were me, I would ask if special precautions were going to be taken to prevent "seeding" the abdomen from the beginning of the lap just in case there is cancer. If not, I'd want to know why. Note that the why may be as simple as the surgeon ALWAYS taking such precautions.

God's blessings and good luck.

Had a davinci procedure as well...with 5 lymph nodes taken and an abdominal wash. My oncologist at Northwestern is one of the pioneers in the davinci procedure and explained to me also, like others have said, he can get a better look with the davinci because of the high definition 3D cameras used. Better than his own eyesight.
I didnt notice anything different with my recovery or how i am feeling now, with 5 lymph nodes taken. I was happy he took them...to check. All came back NEGATIVE! Yahoo!
Best of luck to you friend. For a great surgery and an even better recovery!!

My pharmacist sister encouraged me to ask the gyn onc before surgery how many lymph nodes he would take -she was concerned about lymphedema. His answer was that it would depend on what he saw when he got in there. And, that lymphedema was more likely if he had to take a lot of lymph nodes from the groin area.

It turned out I had a cyst on one ovary so 5 lymph nodes were taken from that area - cyst turned out benign but at my age (58 at time of surgery), the likelihood was that it would be malignant. The other ovary was atrophied so only one lymph node was taken there. Although I gave permission to switch to a TAH during my daVinci if necessary, the daVinci was successful and recovery uneventful, no lymphedema. As far as "seeding" the abdomen goes, all of my organs were placed in"baggies" before they were removed.

I certainly agree about having confidence in your doctor - mine recommended the daVinci right from the start and it worked out well for me.

What is a pelvic wash? I've seen that on a number of posts.

	Quote:
Originally Posted by Bookworm 50 My pharmacist sister encouraged me to ask the gyn onc before surgery how many lymph nodes he would take -she was concerned about lymphedema. His answer was that it would depend on what he saw when he got in there. And, that lymphedema was more likely if he had to take a lot of lymph nodes from the groin area.

Thanks... I always wondered why ALL of the lymph nodes weren't taken to prevent any cancer cells from spreading there...