Sentinel nodes - Dye question

DebraC

Hi, I’m new here. Started on this journey January 7th. Couple of months prior, my right breast was itchy. So I started checking more to see what was up with that. Found a lump. Went to appt, had mammogram, US same day, biopsy the next day. Next day got the call it was positive cancer. 😳

So met with surgeon, lumpectomy, sentinel nodes scheduled for next week.

My question is: does the dye they put in hurt/burn? It’s being put in the afternoon/day before surgery.

I have a commitment that night and wondering if I will feel up to it.

Marymc86

I'm surprised they are doing it the day before. Mine was right before surgery, so, shortly afterward, I was under anesthesia. However, I do not recall it hurting at all except for the stick to put it in. It was not bad.

santabarbarian

Mine was day before -- and nothing lingering.... it should not prevent going out later.

Krose53

I had mine done the night before , as well. I had to have a SB on both sides.I felt no pain at all when the dye was injected. Good luck to you!

pingpong1953

I had mine the day before and it hurt going in but as soon as the injection was finished it was fine. I went fabric shopping right after.

Labmom3

Hi.

I just had my mastectomy 2 weeks ago. I was given an isotope injection right above the aerola. It is like the old fashioned tiny needle TB test. Just a baby pinch, but it burned for about 30 seconds. The tech rubbed the injection site in a small circular motion for about 5 minutes to get the isotopes to spread out. It was once I was under that the radioactive dye was injected. My surgeon said that's the shot that is very uncomfortable and is why they do that part under anesthesia.

The isotopes attract the dye and the dye goes to the sentinel node(s). I had 8 "light up" and removed

They encouraged me to drink lots of water afterward. I will tell you I peed blue for about 18 hours! They didn't tell me that I would, but I figured that's what it was.

You'll do fine! 💙. God bless you!

DebraC

Thank you all for your quick responses! Sounds like I’ll be able to handle it and make it to my meeting.

Sassa

I had the dye put in the day before.

Insist that the breast area be numbed before the injection.

It burns and is inhumane if there is a refusal to numb the breast before injection (my breast was not numbed).

Once the dye is injected and the excruciating burning stops after a few seconds, there is no other pain.

HLB

Sassa mine was not numbed either even though I asked. That was 13 years ago and I still hope for something as painful to happen to that doctor. 

WC3

I've heard some women found them painful but I didn't find them horribly so. Just a little topical stinging.

SDWoman

My nurses put Emla cream on my breast and I never felt a thing. I was shocked, because I was prepared for a bee sting type of pain!

The nuclear med guy who gave me the injection said quite often nurses apply to only the nipple and it doesn't work. My nurses covered a good 4x4 area and then covered with a plastic bandage (like they do for iv) for about 30 min. Worked like a charm!