1. < Breast Cancer

Expectations for Sentinel Node Injection

Posted by janisbrede @janisbrede, Sep 27, 2022

I have a Sentinel Node Injection scheduled the day before my DMX. Can someone please walk me through this procedure and how long I should expect to be there. I didn't know if they scan my nodes then or is it for reference during surgery. Appreciate any information!

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Breast Cancer Support Group.

romeo | @romeo | Oct 5, 2022
In reply to @janisbrede "And doesn’t this all happen while I’m still on the table as then they may take..." + (show)
@janisbrede

And doesn’t this all happen while I’m still on the table as then they may take the next layer of nodes if they detect signs of cancer in sentinel nodes?

Jump to this post

My understanding is that the black spots would show in any areas that the dye had reached and detected cancer. If the dye had reached nodes beyond tne closest ( sentinel) nodes; they might do more.
I signed my release for surgery, after the surgeon reviewed the nuclear medicine resultsie- at 10:40
She was waiting to see if the dye drained to the armpit, neck or leg- the melanoma was in a place where it could have gone to any site.

REPLY
romeo | @romeo | Oct 5, 2022
In reply to @anjalima "I had the radioactive dye injection ( two actually as I had two known tumors) day..." + (show)
@anjalima

I had the radioactive dye injection ( two actually as I had two known tumors) day before my unilateral mastectomy. My surgeons then used a pen sized Geiger counter ( so to speak) to trace the flow from tumor to nodal system. One sentinel node was known positive through a previous biopsy, a second looked suspicious at surgery ( and was positive) and then the next layer ( in the nodal flow pattern) of 5 axillary nodes were removed … all of those were negative!

The value of the injection is that it allows the surgeon to trace the path and remove any suspicious nodes along that path up to a clean layer ( so to speak). So they do need to remove more than what is immediately obvious.

The injections were brutal but very quick but have given me an abundance of relief to know that my next layer above the positive nodes was clean! I think of it as clean nodal margin.

Jump to this post

I was warned that the injections were tough- but, I had previously had an injection for trigger finger. It was 9 out if 10. The dye injections were a 6 out of 10.
- relax, think positive thoughts- especially if you have given birth- you have had this pain before and survived it.

REPLY
1 reply
anjalima | @anjalima | Oct 5, 2022
In reply to @romeo "I was warned that the injections were tough- but, I had previously had an injection for..." + (show)
@romeo

I was warned that the injections were tough- but, I had previously had an injection for trigger finger. It was 9 out if 10. The dye injections were a 6 out of 10.
- relax, think positive thoughts- especially if you have given birth- you have had this pain before and survived it.

Jump to this post

Well I gave it a 10/10 and I gave birth twice without any medication after 22, 17 hours of labor. However, my shots were directly into the nipple . The good news is that it is very very quick!

REPLY
1 reply
callalloo | @callalloo | Oct 5, 2022

I barely remember the dye injection except that it felt cold and wasn't fun. And the room was cold.

Which reminds me, dress warmly or layer up! Hospitals are kept cool for employee comfort and to protect electrics and electronic technology. I wore fave pajamas for surgery day and brought my a microfleece throw we keep for sailing. I got teased about the p.j.'s but doctor and nurses thought bringing own security blanket (and a good book for wait times) was a really good idea. Basically take whatever brings you comfort...breast cancer and its surgery are serious enough so do anything you can do to feel strong in your own body and mental state.

REPLY
romeo | @romeo | Oct 5, 2022
In reply to @anjalima "Well I gave it a 10/10 and I gave birth twice without any medication after 22,..." + (show)
@anjalima

Well I gave it a 10/10 and I gave birth twice without any medication after 22, 17 hours of labor. However, my shots were directly into the nipple . The good news is that it is very very quick!

Jump to this post

Ouch- I should have restated that my injections were for melanoma- in the arm- referring to the first comment about sentinel node biopsies-
The thought of a nipple gives me shudders! That would have been line the needle down the length of half my finger.

REPLY
1 reply
anjalima | @anjalima | Oct 5, 2022
In reply to @romeo "Ouch- I should have restated that my injections were for melanoma- in the arm- referring to..." + (show)
@romeo

Ouch- I should have restated that my injections were for melanoma- in the arm- referring to the first comment about sentinel node biopsies-
The thought of a nipple gives me shudders! That would have been line the needle down the length of half my finger.

Jump to this post

Yeah… it was quite something but none of this is comfortable nor are we in our happy places! But grateful for the technology that can help us diagnose and CURE!

I had a stage 0 melanoma excised 8 years ago so im constantly checked. Hope you got what you needed. 🌸

REPLY
anjalima | @anjalima | Oct 6, 2022
In reply to @romeo "I presented my forms at the desk of nuclear medicine at 8 am. By 8:30, the..." + (show)
@romeo

I presented my forms at the desk of nuclear medicine at 8 am. By 8:30, the technician was injecting 4 needles around my melanoma site, on my arm. I was wheeled to surgery , with results in hand, for a 10:30 survey. By 10:45 , I was under and I was released by 1 pm.
Tne majority of time, in nuclear medicine, was waiting for the dye to move through the lymph system.
I expect that this would vary, depending on the site.

Jump to this post

What was your outcome? We’re they able to remove affected nodes successfully?

REPLY
anjalima | @anjalima | Oct 7, 2022
In reply to @auntieoakley "They injected mine into the tumor area high on the chest wall, this might be an..." + (show)
@auntieoakley

They injected mine into the tumor area high on the chest wall, this might be an outdated way as mine was almost 18 years ago.
Didn’t they put some local anesthetic in for these shots in the nipple!? YEOW!

Jump to this post

No. Not available for this one! But keep in mind … QUICK… like 5 seconds. Unfortunately I needed 2 so I knew what was coming… again. Very important diagnostic tool.

REPLY
View MoreView Less
Please sign in or register to post a reply.