Can you get lymphedema if you only had sentinel node removed?

Hi Catherine,
I might be totally misunderstanding your question but I had a sentinel lymph node excised when I had a lumpectomy and had no drainage tube or any healing issues. The residual scar, a year later, is nearly invisible and looks like a fading kitty scratch.

If you are only having one or a few nodes removed, it might be a relatively easy procedure? If you're having all the nodes removed in that area, ask the surgeon or oncologist for as much support as is available, including post-surgery physical therapy. That can make a big difference and potentially the chances of edema and discomfort while you recover. Sending best wishes to you and, really, all of us in the frontlines.

I am scheduled for dissection. of axillary mode as one has cancer in it...enlarged.... Had IDC in 2016 so this is recurrence. Am really scared. Can anyone who had this surgery tell me your experience...and how did you handle the tube drain...??? My lumpectomy was easy .

Everyone....... If you re getting Covid Vaccines or boosters......no matter your Lymphedema status, if you've had sentinal or node surgery, ask for the vaccine in your hip! I didn't and every shot (but the final booster) I got considerable swelling in my lymphedema arm. The vaccine and all MRNA type vaccines cause inflammation (hence....a wait for mammograms due to false positive breast cancer findings). My fourth shot in my hip....no arm swelling! Hugs to all.

Everyone....... If you re getting Covid Vaccines or boosters......no matter your Lymphedema status, if you've had sentinal or node surgery, ask for the vaccine in your hip! I didn't and every shot (but the final booster) I got considerable swelling in my lymphedema arm. The vaccine and all MRNA type vaccines cause inflammation (hence....a wait for mammograms due to false positive breast cancer findings). My fourth shot in my hip....no arm swelling! Hugs to all.

I had lymph nodes removed on the right side. I was told no needles, no blood pressure on that side. I wore a medic alert bracelet warning against this, but no one ever noticed it. I now just tell everyone "other arm." No one has ever been anything but nice. Many are in the habit of asking "where would you like it" first. Because of the radiation I went through, I was told I'd probably get lymphedema in 10 years. I do get some swelling if I overdo or sleep too hard on that arm.

I had lymph nodes removed on the right side. I was told no needles, no blood pressure on that side. I wore a medic alert bracelet warning against this, but no one ever noticed it. I now just tell everyone "other arm." No one has ever been anything but nice. Many are in the habit of asking "where would you like it" first. Because of the radiation I went through, I was told I'd probably get lymphedema in 10 years. I do get some swelling if I overdo or sleep too hard on that arm.

I just love when doctors are unable to confront their own human imperfection. A male friend spent 15 minutes listening to a doctor describe the several things wrong with him in an uninterruptible monologue while staring at his X-rays. When the doctor was finished with the bad news, my friend suggested that that was probably all wrong.

The doctor condescended
to point out that he is a doctor and my friend is not and therefore his opinion was less important than the doctor's. My friend said the doctor is still wrong and he can prove it. The doctor asked how he can prove it and my friend walked over to the X-ray to point out that it wasn't his name on it. He suggested that the doctor use his superior medical education to find the X-ray with my friend's name on it before diagnosing my friend's medical challenges.

I pointed out to my friend that, had he been a female patient, the doctor would likely have been even more annoying and dismissive...and his wife seconded that appraisal.

It makes me feel better that you have made the choice of finding the right oncologist for you. My first one was a good doctor I think, but he was unreasonable when he would not get a second reading on my diagnostic mamo....the report was full of errors and I asked for a second reading by a different radiologist and he said NO....WE HAVE GOOD DRs....who don’t know their left from their right and what years the two different cancers happened in and even more. He also yelled at me and told me the reason why I had anxiety was because I wouldn’t pay out of pocket for psychological counseling...WTH? Maybe I had anxiety because it was my second cancer and a radiologist had misdiagnosed it twice even though it clearly showed up on mamo and ultrasound...also I have great insurance so why would I even think of paying out of pocket...I still don’t get it, him throwing this in my face. The second was a woman that did not want to answer my questions and huffed out of the room when I pointed out she was wrong about a test report I had with me. Who needs someone who does not want to relate and who has you in a slot that says if this then that. Running out of the room was very unprofessional...she would not admit she was wrong. I think some of these doctors do not want us to read and understand our reports. Now I am looking for number 3. I sure hope I make a better choice this time.