That sentinal node injection thing....
If it comes back where I have no lymph nodes involved does that automatically mean I won't get any lymphedema after surgery if I have the double mastectomy?
thanks for your replies.
Comments
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Not too bad
I also had it done the day before surgery because my surgery was first thing in the morning. To be honest, it did sting. However, it was not unbearable. It was only bad for me when they did the actual injection. It's not that bad that you would want to be put under for it. You'll be fine. When is your surgery again?0 -
node injection
I had mine done in August 09 and it hurt like hell. If I hadn't been strapped to the gurney, I probably would have gotten up and left. They did use some lidocain but didn't give it much time to work. I would give the pain a 9+.0 -
ewwwww that doesn't sound too goodcalvertcrafts said:node injection
I had mine done in August 09 and it hurt like hell. If I hadn't been strapped to the gurney, I probably would have gotten up and left. They did use some lidocain but didn't give it much time to work. I would give the pain a 9+.
But thanks anyway for your honesty.
Jean I don't have any syrgery scheduled as of yet, I still have the 2 more chemo treatments to finish. My surgeon told me yesterday that the chemo is being successful and it has shrunk!!! I am trying to weigh my options lumpectomy vs double mastectomy because he nows says I can have either procedure, he's having me meet the fads oncologist to have him explain it all to me then I have to make a decision.
I read you are not bald yet, lucky you, all my hair came out on July 8th.0 -
not so awfully bad . . .
I agree with Jean - it's tolerable. I had mine done just before surgery (while I was wide awake) - for me, it really only hurt when they did the actual injection - so I just "counted" through that (they did 4 injections) - and it wasn't so bad after that.
Let us know your impression of the procedure after you have it done.
Hope all goes well!!
♥ Lynn ♥0 -
Mine wasn't too bad
It did sting but was not unbearable. Mine was done the same day as my surgery.
I only had 1 sentinel node removed, which was negative, but I still developed lymphedema (in my breast, though, not in my arm). I've been assured that my case is very unusual, but I am living proof that it is within the realm of possibility. Just take care of your arm on the side that they remove the lymph nodes and if you see swelling in your arm OR your breast, don't hesitate to report it to your doctor. If you start addressing it early, it's much easier to manage.
Keep us posted on your surgery schedule!
Take care,
Cindy0 -
Mine was classic textbook right out of Mayo Clinic.com...cindycflynn said:Mine wasn't too bad
It did sting but was not unbearable. Mine was done the same day as my surgery.
I only had 1 sentinel node removed, which was negative, but I still developed lymphedema (in my breast, though, not in my arm). I've been assured that my case is very unusual, but I am living proof that it is within the realm of possibility. Just take care of your arm on the side that they remove the lymph nodes and if you see swelling in your arm OR your breast, don't hesitate to report it to your doctor. If you start addressing it early, it's much easier to manage.
Keep us posted on your surgery schedule!
Take care,
Cindy
One injection before surgery. She put ice on the site for a second, the needle is little and just goes under the skin and really didn't hurt...but when the dye was injected it stung like crazy for a few seconds. I'm glad I didn't have 4 injections. But I ask the doc everything because my imagination would conjure up stuff much worse than facts.
I had the sentinel node and two little ones next to it removed (negative) but I still have to be careful...no blood pressure or iv's in that arm etc. That was the arm that had a good vein for blood draws (not iv's tho) so that is the reason I am keeping my port for as long as I live!
I was so terrified of the dye injection that the hospital had the tech that does it call me and talk to me and I felt so much better. The whole thing took like 12 seconds and she was out of the room.
Let us know when it's being done and we can send positive energy your way!
Hugs, Wimpy Judy :-)0 -
No Big DealSkeezie said:Mine was classic textbook right out of Mayo Clinic.com...
One injection before surgery. She put ice on the site for a second, the needle is little and just goes under the skin and really didn't hurt...but when the dye was injected it stung like crazy for a few seconds. I'm glad I didn't have 4 injections. But I ask the doc everything because my imagination would conjure up stuff much worse than facts.
I had the sentinel node and two little ones next to it removed (negative) but I still have to be careful...no blood pressure or iv's in that arm etc. That was the arm that had a good vein for blood draws (not iv's tho) so that is the reason I am keeping my port for as long as I live!
I was so terrified of the dye injection that the hospital had the tech that does it call me and talk to me and I felt so much better. The whole thing took like 12 seconds and she was out of the room.
Let us know when it's being done and we can send positive energy your way!
Hugs, Wimpy Judy :-)
I had my injection done right before I headed to preop. I had one injection and only felt a slight burn for a couple of seconds. I know for others it's been a big deal but we all react differently to these things. I'm sending you positive vibes you'll be like me. I had 4 nodes removed - all negative. I haven't had any problems with lymphedema and I'm 2 1/2 years out from dx. I did start exercising a couple of weeks after my masectomy so I don't know if that helped or not - guess it didn't hurt! I was told no blood pressures or draws on that side.
Good luck to you. Hugs, Sally0 -
Hi
If I remember right, I had 2 injections at the areola edge. Yes it was more painful than I anticipated. For me a scale of 9. And I tolerate needles well. They said because the skin does not stretch there. But it was over very quick. My nodes were negative when I had my lumpectomy. I had no drains and have no lymphodema.0 -
painful-but quick
Hi -I had my surgery last week. Had the shot for sentinel node biopsy an hour or so before my surgery. I barely felt the shots themselves (2 of them) but when they injected the stuff -MAN DID THAT HURT! On the flip side, though, it was a very intense pain, but for only 2 seconds. It sucked, but was do-able. During my surgery they removed 3 nodes to test but thankfully all were negative for cancer
Good luck with your surgery, I'll be praying for you!
*hugs*
Heather0 -
Hi Rondalaurissa said:Hi
If I remember right, I had 2 injections at the areola edge. Yes it was more painful than I anticipated. For me a scale of 9. And I tolerate needles well. They said because the skin does not stretch there. But it was over very quick. My nodes were negative when I had my lumpectomy. I had no drains and have no lymphodema.
I'm always afraid to respond when this topic comes up because some people's experience was awful, yet I felt nothing. I walked over to the hospital the day before my lumpectomy, went to nuclear medicine and she injected me with the dye and I was so afraid, but I literally felt nothing but the little pinprick. I saw my sentinel node on the screen. And then I walked home.
They did the four blue dye injections during my surgery so I didn't feel those, but I did pee blue for the rest of the day!!
I was lucky and hope the same for you.
Victoria0 -
Gotta be honest, those 4Heatherbelle said:painful-but quick
Hi -I had my surgery last week. Had the shot for sentinel node biopsy an hour or so before my surgery. I barely felt the shots themselves (2 of them) but when they injected the stuff -MAN DID THAT HURT! On the flip side, though, it was a very intense pain, but for only 2 seconds. It sucked, but was do-able. During my surgery they removed 3 nodes to test but thankfully all were negative for cancer Good luck with your surgery, I'll be praying for you!
*hugs*
Heather
Gotta be honest, those 4 shots hurt like hell!!! They had me saying bad words and the tears were just flowing. They had given me something to "relax me", but it didn't help.0 -
I'd rather you all tell the truth.............Cher123 said:Gotta be honest, those 4
Gotta be honest, those 4 shots hurt like hell!!! They had me saying bad words and the tears were just flowing. They had given me something to "relax me", but it didn't help.
so this way I know what to expect. So thank you for letting me know. I hope I am just like the lady that walked to the hospital, (sorry not good with names).
Sounds like I may be in for hell but only for a few seconds. This sucks, everything about having cancer sucks.0 -
Hi. I also thought the2Floridiansisters said:I'd rather you all tell the truth.............
so this way I know what to expect. So thank you for letting me know. I hope I am just like the lady that walked to the hospital, (sorry not good with names).
Sounds like I may be in for hell but only for a few seconds. This sucks, everything about having cancer sucks.
Hi. I also thought the shots were painful. Probably a 9. I know that we do not want to scare anyone but I'm one of those people who deals better if I know what to expect. It is very quick and doable. It also sounds like we all react in a different way. My tumor was very close to the nipple so I think maybe that's why I was so tender. Best luck, you'll do fine.0 -
That makes me angry.GayleMc said:Hi. I also thought the
Hi. I also thought the shots were painful. Probably a 9. I know that we do not want to scare anyone but I'm one of those people who deals better if I know what to expect. It is very quick and doable. It also sounds like we all react in a different way. My tumor was very close to the nipple so I think maybe that's why I was so tender. Best luck, you'll do fine.
If it can be done while I was under during my surgery then it can be done while you are under anesthesia. My surgery was done at Yale New Haven Hospital. If they can do it it is doable. I bet if they needed the treatment, they wouldn't be getting the dye while they were awake. Uggg.
Roseann0 -
Sentinil node injection
I had mine done an hour before my lumpectomy. I admit I was scared to death. They explained that some women have more pain than others. I wonder if it has anything to do with where the tumor is? My tumor was not near the nipple area. The anesthesiologist said most women described it as a bee sting type of pain. Well, I didn't want even that type of pain. They injected some Lidocaine and I didn't feel any pain after that. They did say if it hurt I could rub the area and that would help with the pain as it distributes the dye faster. I hope this helps. Also, I sang out loud. It may sound crazy but do what you have to, just get through it. The nurses got a good laugh out of it. Good luck and I will be praying for you.0 -
We sure have to go through a lot!
I had a lumpectomy. I wonder if that makes any difference in the protocol? Or where the tumor is located? Anyway, mine was done the day of the surgery, after I had a flippin wire shoved (I mean placed) in my breast to guide the surgeon to his target.
Neither of these procedures hurt, but the wire placement was done with local anesthesia. What was uncomfortable, maybe even painful, was having my breast tightly vertically compressed in the mammo paddles for the entire procedure (maybe 10 minutes). Ugh.
Then on to nuclear medicine for the dye. They apologetically told me it was really going to hurt. Swell. The faculty physician even stood on my free side and held my hand during the entire procedure while the fellow did the injections (university teaching hospital). I had 6 injections. They did not hurt much at all. It was not fun, but it did not hurt. Sort of felt like a bee sting. None were in my nipple.
We're all different in how we react to the things we have to do through - and it sure is a lot, ain't it. I started chemo today. Onward.
Suzanne0 -
For me, it did sting, but,Jean 0609 said:Not too bad
I also had it done the day before surgery because my surgery was first thing in the morning. To be honest, it did sting. However, it was not unbearable. It was only bad for me when they did the actual injection. It's not that bad that you would want to be put under for it. You'll be fine. When is your surgery again?
For me, it did sting, but, like Jean wrote, it is bearable. Good luck!0 -
Hi, I just went through all
Hi, I just went through all this last week. Know what you're going through, all still fresh in my mind. You know the reason for the radioactive dye injection is so that the dye will follow the natural path and the first node or nodes it goes to and stays in will be the ones that will be tested first. This biopsy part will be done at time of surgery so you will be asleep. If sentinel node is cancer free they will most likely take no more. Lymphedema generally is not a problem in that case. My surgeon only took one node it was biopsied right there in the operating room and came up clean. So, I just have some stitches in my armpit. Not too bad. The injection of the dye. Oh that day I was a nervous wreck. Who wants something injected in their nipple? Well, I put the Emla cream on thick two hours before the appointment. (it's a numbing cream they should give you a perscriptiom for.) About the cream, if you have a perscription get the stuff in advance because around here no pharmacy has it in supply and I had to wait for a special order to come in. Luckily I didn't wait for the last minute to get it. Anyway, the cream numbs up your skin pretty good. You go in and you lie down and they clean up the area and you get just a few small pokes. It did sting a little, but not nearly so bad as I had imagined. It was all done so fast. I got up put on my shirt and went home. I felt silly I had gotten my self all nervous for nothing. You'll do fine, I promise.0 -
I think my test/procedure was called .. Mapping .. injectionsSkeezie said:Mine was classic textbook right out of Mayo Clinic.com...
One injection before surgery. She put ice on the site for a second, the needle is little and just goes under the skin and really didn't hurt...but when the dye was injected it stung like crazy for a few seconds. I'm glad I didn't have 4 injections. But I ask the doc everything because my imagination would conjure up stuff much worse than facts.
I had the sentinel node and two little ones next to it removed (negative) but I still have to be careful...no blood pressure or iv's in that arm etc. That was the arm that had a good vein for blood draws (not iv's tho) so that is the reason I am keeping my port for as long as I live!
I was so terrified of the dye injection that the hospital had the tech that does it call me and talk to me and I felt so much better. The whole thing took like 12 seconds and she was out of the room.
Let us know when it's being done and we can send positive energy your way!
Hugs, Wimpy Judy :-)
right under nipple area .. right before bi-lateral mact'my .. 1 hour before my surgery .. OMG -- this hurt like helllll for me. 4 shots to each nipple ...YIKES, I swear the needle was 6 inches long - right?
I am by no means a whimp .... C-Sections -- no pain pills or shots, just 1 pain pill in the evening before retiring ...No whimp ..
120 cc fills with my tissue expanders .. no pain med's, or tylenol .. so yes .. I am pretty tough -- or so I thought.I am so very happy to those of you that breezed thru this procedure ...
Vicki Sam0 -
Hey 2Floridiansisters2Floridiansisters said:ewwwww that doesn't sound too good
But thanks anyway for your honesty.
Jean I don't have any syrgery scheduled as of yet, I still have the 2 more chemo treatments to finish. My surgeon told me yesterday that the chemo is being successful and it has shrunk!!! I am trying to weigh my options lumpectomy vs double mastectomy because he nows says I can have either procedure, he's having me meet the fads oncologist to have him explain it all to me then I have to make a decision.
I read you are not bald yet, lucky you, all my hair came out on July 8th.
Keep me posted when you find out about your surgery. When do you finish your chemo? I think we started the same time, and I have 2 left also. My last should be August 25. I already had my surgery, May 4 (mastectomy with immediate reconstruction). Believe it or not I still have my hair. Got it cut really short. It is coming out, but no bald spots yet. It is getting very thin, especially on top. Went to lunch today with my girlfriends and wore one of my wigs out for the first time. It wasn't as bad as I thought. Didn't spend anytime outside though, it is over 100 degrees here today. Hugs, Jean0
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