How do I know the surgeon took enough lymph nodes during my surgery?

I did ask for an MRI (rather than a 3D mammogram), as my annual screening was to take place after Aug. 22nd. I asked of my Iowa City oncologist, who said, "You aren't bad enough." He told me that I had to be classified as 2B "or insurance won't pay for it." He also said that the radiologist who did your last 3D mammogram should write something to the effect that you had "dense breasts" and that might get you an MRI. I had never heard that I had to have the "approval" of the last year's radiologist (and, therefore, didn't lobby for it from her) and I wondered why I wouldn't be considered "bad enough" when you consider these factors: 1) I have been told that I have "dense breasts" for years and am always being called back for more screening because of it (2) In fact, I have 3 stereotactic biopsies since 2018 (benign). The one on Dec. 7, 2021 found an 11 mm. tumor. The one on Feb. 14, 2023 was lumps from my lumpectomy. (3) I tried for a full year to take the adjuvant therapy pills (Anastrozole for 7 months and Tamoxifen for 5 months). I could not tolerate either and Anastrazole put me in a wheelchair for 6 months, so I have been off all of the adjuvant therapy pills since Aug. 30, 2024(4) My LFTs have skyrocketed since May 1, 2024, going as high as 282 when and 242 when they are not supposed to be above 25 or 35 (5) My father died of liver cancer that spread from his colon cancer and killed him in 6 months. Setting aside the peace of mind issue, you would think that those factors would be enough to grant me an MRI this year, but I was told "no" in Iowa City and my doctor there also said he wouldn't order a 3D mammogram for me, because "you can do it yourself." I came back to Texas (Austin) to be seen for the elevated liver enzymes because Iowa City couldn't work me into their schedule until Nov. 22, by which time my liver could well have been Stage 4, terminal. I asked my oncologist her in Austin for an MRI for the reasons given and he ordered one "stat" which I had on Aug. 13 and which was NED. I also have become an Ambassador for women like me who are constantly told "no" to the tests they should be entitled to. When I found out that the MRI test was, actually, affordable for me, I decided I would have one no matter what. Please read these stories from women like me who are constantly denied tests that are considered "standard of care," as I was. https://mydensitymatters.org/programs/my-story-matters/

Because I was not given an oncotype initially, I paid for a HerScan ultrasound treatment of my lumpectomy breast at the one year anniversary mark of my lumpectomy on 1/27/2023. I soundly flunked the HerScan and was told to go to an oncologist. It turned out, however, to be normal healing of fatty tissue or some such. It was never really explained to me by the oncologist at all, but I read about it on here from another breast cancer survivor.

I'm 76, have ER pos. DCIS with 2 pos. lymph nodes. I also chose to forgo Radiation. There are no guarantees, so I'll take my anastrozole and hope for the best. Good Luck to you.