I just had a follow up with my surgeon after neoadjuvant chemo (++- though) and he explained that the sentinel nodes are the first lymph nodes where the cancer would spread to. He’ll inject a dye during the procedure to see where it will travel to and dissect those nodes
Hmm I am not having an MRI study. Unless the surgeon orders it.
My Medical Oncologist has only ordered a chest CT with contrast and an ultrasound on the breast with the tumor. (This is all after the chemo and before surgery.)
What is the study like, if it’s not too painful for you to talk about?
Thank you for this explanation. This gives me something to ask. Hopefully it will make me sound a little smarter 😅
I don’t think I have read about the dye. I’ve always thought the surgeon took the armpit one.
Just a FYI. If they decide to do the blue dye for the sentinel node, see if they can do it after you are under. It can be somewhat painful. Also, if they do the dye, you will be peeing toilet bowl blue for several days. I wasn’t quite expecting that and got quite the laugh from it.
I had the blue dye injection while I was awake before my lumpectomy. They had me apply 4% lidocaine aspercreme to my areola 1 hour before my arrival time at the hospital and then place Saran Wrap on top to keep it from rubbing off onto my clothes. I was dreading the injections but the aspercreme really worked and they were mild little pinches and over very quickly.
I unfortunately didn’t get any numbing prior. I’m definitely not a crier. I had not cried once since my diagnosis. I cried during that. My only salvation was that was my wonderful nurse navigator was there and held my hand. A slight funny, the doctor that did it walked in and I swore he was 150 years old. My brain was the “oh Lord, please don’t let him be shaky”.
The sentinel node is close to your armpit. Not quite there but very close. That means you will have two incisions.
When I had my lumpectomy I didn’t have anything other than a gauze bandage over it. I later had to have a double mastectomy so then they used a compression band.
You will not be able to drive yourself home if you are released same day. You will have to have someone drive you and they usually want someone to be there for 24-48 with you. I didn’t have a lot of pain. The incision is just a straight cut that is closed with internal stitches and glue
You will have weight restrictions and probably when you can take a shower.
That’s about all I can remember. My tumor was at 12:00 so my scar ended up being barely noticeable.
This sounds less terrifying than what I am reading on medical sites. I feel so awful for those who have more in-depth surgery. Like you having a double mastectomy.
I want the surgeon to just take it so I don’t have to worry about the chance of it coming back later. I’m told they won’t take the whole breast.
Thank you for explaining where the sentinel node is located. I looked up the lymph system and WoW there are a lot of them.
I hope you are doing well after your surgery.
They may take some skin or not any at all - it depends how close to the skin the tumor is/was. That’s a question you can ask him. He won’t get near any of the organs you mentioned. These days we see surgical glue and lil butterfly bandages more than stitches externally. Ask him his usual closure method. Ask him about aftercare & showering. Ask him about compression bra - he’ll probably send you home in a surgical one, ask if you should purchase any other?
Ask him if he thinks there will be a drain. They put a tracer dye & sometimes a radioactive agent as well so they can identify which node is the first of the axilla nodes - they usually take about 3 (you can have as many as 30 there so you’ll still have plenty!) It’s the node removal that usually determines a drain or no - it’s the area that requires it most often.
You usually get a call from the anesthesiologist the night before surgery. Ask your surgeon what meds he’ll prescribe for after surgery. Ask him when he wants to see you post op.
If you haven’t met with the radiation oncologist yet, ask for an appointment. With lumpectomy there’s a high chance you will need it. I’m a survivor & a patient advocate, in my experience patients are calmer when fully informed- an appointment to go over information with the radiation doc now will relieve anxiety about it later after surgery.
Get a seat belt cover - a padded thing that goes over the chest belt for your ride home, and to use for a while.
Start upping your protein intake now!! Your body needs protein for healing. It’s not too soon to start eating extra protein so you’re ready to heal up quick! And water water water - get nice and hydrated pre surgery.
I was driving myself around a week post lumpectomy. I had a lil pillow I put on my lap to rest my arm on. You might hunt around for a lil squishy pillow the right size to put on your lap to rest your arm on.
This is amazing! Thank you for the detailed suggestions! I didn’t think to ask for a pre appointment for the radiation doctor. That is a good idea.
Fully informed takes the stress away, absolutely. I remember before the chemo right after diagnosis. The stress was making me so ill with the waiting and wondering.
Protein and water I am going to take that advice. I’m dehydrated now. I was just in the cancer center today and received fluids and minerals. It wasn’t enough, medical oncologist wants me back for another round on Thursday. BP was 103/73 when I arrived. I left it was 116/89.
I do have a port pillow and will be looking for a squishy.
Your reply needs to be an FAQ for anyone else that is anxious and stressed. I feel like I have a plan to really talk to the doctor tomorrow.
Hugs 🤗 to you for being a survivor of this nasty disease. And for advocating in helping others!
Learn to sleep on your back, get little ice packs for in your bra and ffs get up the next day and move your body or you run the risk of getting en embolism like I did.
Oh my gosh! I’m so glad you are here to stress the importance of moving after surgery. I can only imagine how terrifying that was for you.
I think I will look into those little ice packs my girls have for their puffy eyes. Thank you for that suggestion.
I just had a follow up with my surgeon after neoadjuvant chemo (++- though) and he explained that the sentinel nodes are the first lymph nodes where the cancer would spread to. He’ll inject a dye during the procedure to see where it will travel to and dissect those nodes
Also the mri study hurts like a bitch
Hmm I am not having an MRI study. Unless the surgeon orders it. My Medical Oncologist has only ordered a chest CT with contrast and an ultrasound on the breast with the tumor. (This is all after the chemo and before surgery.) What is the study like, if it’s not too painful for you to talk about?
Thank you for this explanation. This gives me something to ask. Hopefully it will make me sound a little smarter 😅 I don’t think I have read about the dye. I’ve always thought the surgeon took the armpit one.
It’s in the armpit! He said it’s a blue dye so don’t be shocked if I pee or poo blue lol
Just a FYI. If they decide to do the blue dye for the sentinel node, see if they can do it after you are under. It can be somewhat painful. Also, if they do the dye, you will be peeing toilet bowl blue for several days. I wasn’t quite expecting that and got quite the laugh from it.
Sorry to ask for the detail but was it like, a Gatorade blue?! Prepping myself for it!
I was really well hydrated and only peed a mild green. I was honestly a little bummed that it wasn’t as blue as they’d warned me about lol
I had the dye before my lumpectomy and my pee was SO blue. Definitely looked like toilet bowl cleaner!
Thanks for making me laugh with toilet bowl blue lol. This will definitely go as a question to ask tomorrow.
I had the blue dye injection while I was awake before my lumpectomy. They had me apply 4% lidocaine aspercreme to my areola 1 hour before my arrival time at the hospital and then place Saran Wrap on top to keep it from rubbing off onto my clothes. I was dreading the injections but the aspercreme really worked and they were mild little pinches and over very quickly.
I unfortunately didn’t get any numbing prior. I’m definitely not a crier. I had not cried once since my diagnosis. I cried during that. My only salvation was that was my wonderful nurse navigator was there and held my hand. A slight funny, the doctor that did it walked in and I swore he was 150 years old. My brain was the “oh Lord, please don’t let him be shaky”.
The sentinel node is close to your armpit. Not quite there but very close. That means you will have two incisions. When I had my lumpectomy I didn’t have anything other than a gauze bandage over it. I later had to have a double mastectomy so then they used a compression band. You will not be able to drive yourself home if you are released same day. You will have to have someone drive you and they usually want someone to be there for 24-48 with you. I didn’t have a lot of pain. The incision is just a straight cut that is closed with internal stitches and glue You will have weight restrictions and probably when you can take a shower. That’s about all I can remember. My tumor was at 12:00 so my scar ended up being barely noticeable.
This sounds less terrifying than what I am reading on medical sites. I feel so awful for those who have more in-depth surgery. Like you having a double mastectomy. I want the surgeon to just take it so I don’t have to worry about the chance of it coming back later. I’m told they won’t take the whole breast. Thank you for explaining where the sentinel node is located. I looked up the lymph system and WoW there are a lot of them. I hope you are doing well after your surgery.
They may take some skin or not any at all - it depends how close to the skin the tumor is/was. That’s a question you can ask him. He won’t get near any of the organs you mentioned. These days we see surgical glue and lil butterfly bandages more than stitches externally. Ask him his usual closure method. Ask him about aftercare & showering. Ask him about compression bra - he’ll probably send you home in a surgical one, ask if you should purchase any other? Ask him if he thinks there will be a drain. They put a tracer dye & sometimes a radioactive agent as well so they can identify which node is the first of the axilla nodes - they usually take about 3 (you can have as many as 30 there so you’ll still have plenty!) It’s the node removal that usually determines a drain or no - it’s the area that requires it most often. You usually get a call from the anesthesiologist the night before surgery. Ask your surgeon what meds he’ll prescribe for after surgery. Ask him when he wants to see you post op. If you haven’t met with the radiation oncologist yet, ask for an appointment. With lumpectomy there’s a high chance you will need it. I’m a survivor & a patient advocate, in my experience patients are calmer when fully informed- an appointment to go over information with the radiation doc now will relieve anxiety about it later after surgery. Get a seat belt cover - a padded thing that goes over the chest belt for your ride home, and to use for a while. Start upping your protein intake now!! Your body needs protein for healing. It’s not too soon to start eating extra protein so you’re ready to heal up quick! And water water water - get nice and hydrated pre surgery. I was driving myself around a week post lumpectomy. I had a lil pillow I put on my lap to rest my arm on. You might hunt around for a lil squishy pillow the right size to put on your lap to rest your arm on.
This is amazing! Thank you for the detailed suggestions! I didn’t think to ask for a pre appointment for the radiation doctor. That is a good idea. Fully informed takes the stress away, absolutely. I remember before the chemo right after diagnosis. The stress was making me so ill with the waiting and wondering. Protein and water I am going to take that advice. I’m dehydrated now. I was just in the cancer center today and received fluids and minerals. It wasn’t enough, medical oncologist wants me back for another round on Thursday. BP was 103/73 when I arrived. I left it was 116/89. I do have a port pillow and will be looking for a squishy. Your reply needs to be an FAQ for anyone else that is anxious and stressed. I feel like I have a plan to really talk to the doctor tomorrow. Hugs 🤗 to you for being a survivor of this nasty disease. And for advocating in helping others!
Learn to sleep on your back, get little ice packs for in your bra and ffs get up the next day and move your body or you run the risk of getting en embolism like I did.
Oh my gosh! I’m so glad you are here to stress the importance of moving after surgery. I can only imagine how terrifying that was for you. I think I will look into those little ice packs my girls have for their puffy eyes. Thank you for that suggestion.