sentinel node procedure

SweetSue
SweetSue Member Posts: 217
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
Sorry I do not know all the correct terminology, but I will try. I am unsure how I feel about what happened to me. A day before my bilateral mastechtomy, I had the dye injected in my breast so (I thought) I would have only a couple of lymph nodes removed. Well, I had 16 and no cancer was found (thank God). But I questioned the doctor about this and I am unsure if I am satisfied with the response. Should I feel that taking 16 nodes was excessive and unnecessary. Now, I have to worry about lymphedema. I knwo there are many other concerns when one has breast cancer, but this is bothering me.

Comments

  • wingingit
    wingingit Member Posts: 48
    #2
    You deserve to have your questions answered satisfactorily by your doctor. Did your surgeon tell you he would be performing the sentinel node dissection? If you had the sentinel node dissection, your surgeon would have first removed the sentinel nodes to first examine whether cancer was detected in any of those nodes. Usually, if something looks suspicious (nodes are again examined and biopsied after the surgery for a complete evaluation), they will go ahead and remove the other axillary nodes at that time. Did he indicate there was something seen in the sentinel nodes to justify removal of the others? Have you considered asking your surgeon for your pathology and surgical reports? You have a right to see these. I hope you get answers . . . Krista
  • SweetSue
    SweetSue Member Posts: 217
    #3
    wingingit said:

    You deserve to have your questions answered satisfactorily by your doctor. Did your surgeon tell you he would be performing the sentinel node dissection? If you had the sentinel node dissection, your surgeon would have first removed the sentinel nodes to first examine whether cancer was detected in any of those nodes. Usually, if something looks suspicious (nodes are again examined and biopsied after the surgery for a complete evaluation), they will go ahead and remove the other axillary nodes at that time. Did he indicate there was something seen in the sentinel nodes to justify removal of the others? Have you considered asking your surgeon for your pathology and surgical reports? You have a right to see these. I hope you get answers . . . Krista

    thank you, Krista.
  • krisrey
    krisrey Member Posts: 194
    #4
    Hi sweet onion,
    I agree with Krista, you certainly have a right to know and I think she has some really good suggestions for you.
    My question is ...you say that you had dye injected the day before your mastectomy. I did not have a mastectomy but a lumpectomy but did have the sentinal node with the dye. My dye was injected the day of surgery and it was extremely plainful with all those needles going into the breast. Then I had to wait 1-2 hours before the surgery in order for the dye to go through. Maybe they do it different from a mastectomy but I thought the procedure was all done at the same time. Either way you deserve to get the answers from your doc and especially your path reports. Even though I had the sentinel node I had to go back in again for more nodes so I have a fear of the lymphedima also but I am determinded to do all I can to prevent it and continue working out and lifting weights.
    I am soooo glad all you nodes came back negative and I wish you a speedy recovery.
    Kristen
  • Roxi1
    Roxi1 Member Posts: 39
    #5
    krisrey said:

    Hi sweet onion,
    I agree with Krista, you certainly have a right to know and I think she has some really good suggestions for you.
    My question is ...you say that you had dye injected the day before your mastectomy. I did not have a mastectomy but a lumpectomy but did have the sentinal node with the dye. My dye was injected the day of surgery and it was extremely plainful with all those needles going into the breast. Then I had to wait 1-2 hours before the surgery in order for the dye to go through. Maybe they do it different from a mastectomy but I thought the procedure was all done at the same time. Either way you deserve to get the answers from your doc and especially your path reports. Even though I had the sentinel node I had to go back in again for more nodes so I have a fear of the lymphedima also but I am determinded to do all I can to prevent it and continue working out and lifting weights.
    I am soooo glad all you nodes came back negative and I wish you a speedy recovery.
    Kristen

    I had a SN procedure too. However, the radioactive material never traced to the sentinel nodes. Instead, the tracer stayed right in the tumor bed. So, my surgeon took 10 nodes, instead of the 1-2 usually taken if the process had worked. The Radiologist told me that sometimes this occurs. Thankfully, not too often.
    Roxanne
  • sostendorf
    sostendorf Member Posts: 14
    #6
    Roxi1 said:

    I had a SN procedure too. However, the radioactive material never traced to the sentinel nodes. Instead, the tracer stayed right in the tumor bed. So, my surgeon took 10 nodes, instead of the 1-2 usually taken if the process had worked. The Radiologist told me that sometimes this occurs. Thankfully, not too often.
    Roxanne

    I had the SN procedure too. Absolutely one of the most painful things I've experienced in my life! Worse than childbirth for me!! They put the radioactive isotope into the tumor bed through my nipple. Did they do that to you too? OUCH!!! I live in a small town in Iowa, so when I had the procedure done four years ago, I was only the 8th by my surgeon. Because he didn't feel experienced with the procedure, he did the sentinal node biopsy, which came back negative, but removed 8 or 9 nodes anyway. I think I was sort of a guinea pig for him! I have had no trouble with swelling, but do sometimes have an awful, take-my-breath away pain in my arm pit. I too would ask whether they questioned spreading of the cancer cells by the result of the sentinal biopsy. Perhaps that is why they took so many nodes. Better to be safe than sorry! (My dye was injected the day of surgery--about 45 minutes beforehand. Funny the difference in how the procedure is done in different places!)

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