Testing of lymph nodes after chemo

I had fine needle asp of a 'thickened' node prior to chemo which came back clear. They said it was just a reaction to the core biopsies I had. There was no indication that I had cancer in my lymph nodes on any tests including ultrasound and MRI. They actually tested the first 2 sentinel nodes while I was in theatre under anaesthetic for my mastectomies, and found that they contained cancer, so then proceeded to a full auxiliary clearance in the same operation.

Thank you for your responses.  I guess I just thought that the normal procedure regarding lymph node clearance was to test the nodes that the cancer would go to first, I am having a mastectomy so understood they would take these nodes out,  get pathology results then decide if full node clearance was necessary, I hadn't heard that they do full clearance as that I thought was the old way and the new way was to take the first layer test them if there was cancer present then take them out. I was quite shocked to hear that now that I have had chemo for 6 months, that this was no longer the case.  During ultrasound they did not see any nodes that were a red flag, neither did MRI which I have had prior to chemo and during.
chemo however did not shrink cancer significantly, so that would be a factor, as if any small cancer cells present maybe chemo has not killed them.
thanks
Christine 

Chrissy, I too had Sentinel Node done prior to Chemo, so I find your question very interesting and like the others keen to hear the response. @KatyJoy that certainly explains alot. x M

I had a 9cm IDC left breast and had neoadjuvant chemo pre surgery. My surgeon told me that usually he would take the first 2 lymph nodes for the sentinel node biopsy, but because I had had chemo first, he would take 7. As it turned out, I had micro metastasis in the first two nodes so they did a full auxiliary clearance. He said chemo can mask cancer in the lymph nodes.
Kate

I had chemo before bilateral mastectomy surgery. They did sentinel node biopsies on both sides. One side had two nodes taken which are both positive and the other side they took one which is negative. It would be interesting to know if chemo can affect the results.

Good question @chrissy555 I would be interested to know too.
I had a lumpectomy and sentinel nodes removed. (2) - 1 was positive.
I have gone for chemo before having a mastectomy and axillary clearance.
I would be interested to know how many lymph nodes were actually involved, and whether chemo will change the pathology results.
As the number of lymph nodes involved is used to stage the cancer, I think I want to know. Maybe?
It would make a difference with my cancer disease free survival estimation as I am currently at stage 11B, bordering on 111.
Not that it would make any difference to the treatment as I am having everything they can throw at it anyway.
So maybe I don't really want to know how many were involved. 

But I would be interested to know how chemo impacts on the pathology post mastectomy and lymph node clearance.

Hi Chrissy,
My tumour was also 6cm, and I had a mastectomy and full auxiliary clearance. They found 5 positive nodes out of 17 removed. I don't want to frighten you, however my advice is to make sure that they have got it all so you are aware of your full diagnosis.
Take care, Trace xxx

I guess being a big tumor they want to be very sure rather than put you tbrough an additional surgery. She has given good reasons and I don't believe they would recommend this if they didn't believe it necessary. 

That's a great question, one I'd be interested to hear the answer to. I had sentinel node but was pre chemo. Sentinel node has been huge in reducing lymphedema., although you can still get it with even one node out. Unfortunately had a recurrence and more nodes out and radiation and did get it. Make sure you take care of your arm, do exercises and treat any bites, cuts promptly. Good luck with your surgery. 
Paula xxxx