How can cancer be missed in scans but found in surgery?

That really sucks Joy. If you have micro metastases to axillary lymph nodes…likely below threshold for those imaging studies to have picked up and why they did the node biopsy.

So what do I do now? Do I wait. Do I do more tests or do I just start radiation? I'm so sick right now from the surgery that I don't think I could live through the radiation right now. I can barely get up and walk and the pain is the worst I've ever had in my lifetime. The nausea prevents me from eating. I almost died from this massive surgery. I spent 5 days in ICU after the surgery due to blood loss and my B/P in the 70s/30s. I'm still on meds to keep it up in the 90/50s. I just don't think I have the fight left in me.

I’m sorry you are having such a difficult time after your surgery. Thoughts and prayers are sent your way!! From what I understand, radiation begins several weeks after surgery. I had lumpectomy oncoplasty Feb. 25 and have my radiation consult tomorrow.

If radiation is the next step, I would talk to your doctors Joy about timeline. I think they usually need you to heal from surgery before starting radiation. Sounds like you need a little more time.

Dear Wendy L… sending prayers out to you toward strength & recovery. Rest as well as you possibly can. Your body needs it for healing. Question your doctors all you wish in order to gain a better understanding as to the need for radiation & how the testing came out so confusing.

Imaging tests can sometimes miss cancer because cancer cells may be too small to detect or hidden in areas that are difficult to see clearly on scans. The pathology results from actual tissue samples are generally considered the most accurate way to diagnose cancer, as they allow doctors to examine the cells directly under a microscope. This situation, while understandably confusing and concerning, does happen and is something worth discussing thoroughly with the medical team to understand next steps and ensure the most appropriate care plan moving forward.