Radioactive Seed Localization Before Breast Surgery

Karmic108

Is having radioactive seed prior to surgery is mandatory. My lump cannot be felt by hand.

https://www.mskcc.org/cancer-care/patient-educatio...

Edited by Mods to make link hot.

Muffkin78

I had radioactive seed prior to excisional biopsy. The alternative is a wire, which I've heard from the pre-op surgery nurses is a bit awkward for the patient as it sticks out of you until they do the surgery. The amount of radiation you receive from the seed is minimal - mine was I-125. You should ask to speak to the radiologist who will be doing the implantation of the seed if you have concerns. In my experience, the radioactive seed insert was slightly easier than the steriotactic biopsy. They implanted my seed about 3 hours prior to surgery, but I've seen some people on the boards say they had it implanted days before surgery.

(They cut it out when they do the surgery. It was actually pretty cool - I had a "chain of custody" letter for the seed that had to follow me around wherever I went - even to the bathroom before surgery.)

OTMom

I had it too. I found it kind of fascinating, especially when they had to check to make sure it had gone in and wasn't still in the needle. They swiped the geiger counter by the needle- nothing. Then they held it close to me and it started making noise. So weird. I also had the signature sheet that followed me around until it was removed during surgery. From what hospital staff said (mostly the nurses in pre-op who have seen many people go through this), it's much more comfortable than the wire localization.