No sentinel node Stage 1

Gerian-  I am not a doctor, but will tell you what I know.  Typically, people have what is called a sentinel node.  You can think of it as sort of the gatekeeper node that everything has to pass through.  The sentinel node usually "catches" things like cancer cells first, that is why they biopsy it.  I think if the sentinel node is negative, usually they feel  the other nodes will be too.  Did they inject the radioactive dye before your mom's surgery?  That's what they did with me.  Then my surgeon had a little instrument which was almost like a geiger counter.  She showed me before they put me to sleep, it squeeled when she located the sentinel node. Usually they biopsy the sentinel node and send it to pathology, then proceed with the breast surgery.  The results come back while you are still in surgery.  If they are negative, they only remove that one.  If the results are positive, they may remove more for staging.  However, now there is some new medical thinking that they do not have to remove more nodes if there are only tiny cells in the sentinel node.  In my case, the sentinel node was negative.  Then a week later upon detailed pathology staining they found one micromet so it was positive.  This was quite devastating at the time as I had to go back in for more surgery and they removed 9 more nodes.  I did recover quickly.  Your mom will now have to take precautions for the rest of her life to not get lymphedema.  Never allow BP checks, blood draws on that arm.  If she gets a cut or scratch, wash it and put antibiotic lotion on it.  Sending you wishes for great, all negative pathology reports!

Hi DesignerMum

Hope you don't mind answering some questions for me. I had high grade DCIS (6cms) with 1.2cm IDC, grade 1. One of my four sentinel nodes came back with micromets but oncologist decided to treat it as negative. I didn't have any further treatment. I have done lots of research on micromets on SNB with lots of different opinions. My oncologist says I am in what's called a 'grey area' and would not treat me with chemo. I have accepted this, but I suppose I need some reassuring from people. Can you or any others reassure me I am doing the right thing. Many thanks Linda