Radiation and CLL?

[1962jns]

I had my second lumpectomy last Friday. Had a reoccurrence after two years. Drs said I now need radiation to my left breast. They removed two more lymph nodes and they were clear for breast cancer but still showed up the CLL. I’m on W&W. Does this mean all lymph nodes if tested would show CLL?

Would having radiation do any damage to CLL?

[AussieNeil Partner Administrator]

CLL/SLL can be treated by radiation therapy, which can even be curative in the early stages of SLL, provided the infiltrated nodes are few and adjacent. If your CLL/SLL is detectable in your blood, I would expect you'd find it in all 500+ of your lymph nodes.

Neil

[Ginajetta in reply to AussieNeil]

I think a second opinion from a CLL Specialist would be a good idea. If they are CLL cells in the nodes I believe that would be normal to find in the breast nodes.

[AussieNeil Partner Administrator in reply to Ginajetta]

It's totally normal to see CLL in nodes removed from and around our breasts, plus CLL swollen nodes detected in mammograms are a common reason for worrying results requiring further investigation .

[Ginajetta]

think a second opinion from a CLL Specialist would be a good idea. If they are CLL cells in the nodes I believe that would be normal to find in the breast nodes. I don’t think need for radiation DEPENDING on advice of CLL Specialist.

[1962jns in reply to Ginajetta]

The radiation is for the breast cancer not the CLL.

[Ginajetta]

I’m sorry I misunderstood you. I thought biopsy showed no breast cancer only cll cells. I apologize.

[1962jns in reply to Ginajetta]

Pathology was negative for breast cancer but still showed positive for the CLL. SORRY I Dont KNOW HOW TO BE MORE CLEAR