What is doctor supposed to do when sentinel lymph node biopsy fails?

Posted by 1cs @1cs, May 28 5:27pm

What is surgeon supposed to do when sentinel lymph nodes biopsy fails? I had 7 good lymph nodes removed from my right breast. I had tiny stage 1 cancer in this breast.

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@1cs

The right breast is the one that did not work. It was a tiny 4 mm. The man who administered the breast shots appeared to be at least in his 60's if not older. The shots were given in a dimly lit room an hour or 2 before surgery. I am questioning his ability to see properly in these conditions. Shouldn't the surgeon have shot the breast again or delayed surgery on the right breast, or at least used his skills to determine the sentinel node without the shot working? My husband & I had expressed our concern over the lymph nodes time and time again. All trends are for less and less lymph node removal. I had both breasts operated on at the same time. I already have lymphedema and have to go to clinic. I have a lot of side effects from having the underarm surgeries - hands, arms, and shoulders.
I don't get much sleep at all; and when I do then I wake up from my hands, arms and shoulders waking me up. My 4th and 5th fingers on both hands are the worst, I am right-handed. When I woke up from surgery, I was flinging both hands around and immediately noticed the numbness. I have had other surgeries and have never been treated this badly before. My husband was available with a phone call and was waiting in the hospital area. When I had knee surgery at another time and place, the doctor called my husband to let him know about some issues and discussed the plan to proceed with. Shouldn't this doctor have done the same? He knew that I would not have wished to have 9 good lymph nodes removed. Who in their right mind would? By the way, when 2 lit up on the other breast why couldn't or didn't, he figure out which ONE was the sentinel node?

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i had 8 nodes removed all negative since no sentinel node detected, standard procedure i was told ( done at time of mastectomy, after stage 1)

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@cashemire

i had 8 nodes removed all negative since no sentinel node detected, standard procedure i was told ( done at time of mastectomy, after stage 1)

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How are you doing? I am not doing very well at all. I had fibrosis in both breasts - noticed and diagnosed it myself. Then I sent photos to doctor office, they said yes. I gave up on trying to ask them anything fairly quickly. They would just say yes when yes is not even the answer to anything. I developed lymphedema fairly quickly mostly in my feet ankles after surgery. My arms look horrible all the way down from the armpit to the wrist from the lymph node removal. The right one which had 7 removed is much more stratified than the left.

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@1cs

How are you doing? I am not doing very well at all. I had fibrosis in both breasts - noticed and diagnosed it myself. Then I sent photos to doctor office, they said yes. I gave up on trying to ask them anything fairly quickly. They would just say yes when yes is not even the answer to anything. I developed lymphedema fairly quickly mostly in my feet ankles after surgery. My arms look horrible all the way down from the armpit to the wrist from the lymph node removal. The right one which had 7 removed is much more stratified than the left.

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Very sorry to hear about your issues!
As for me, I hated hearing they took out all my nodes and it was my first question when awaking from mastectomy (8 removed for first lumpectomy, then another 8 when local recurrence) but again, I understood that if a sentinel node doesn't show up, they have to make sure none of the remaining nodes has traces of cancer. In my case, it is a relief to know that was the case. I must say aside from numbness on that side I haven't experienced the dreaded lymphedema, although they do say it could show up later. I have background worries about getting any infection on that arm, since the nodes are gone, but am habituating to what I have to accept. I do hope your situation improves!

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