Nodes Question

bhiri, I had an SNB. Four lymph nodes were taken out and one was positive with micrometastesis. Kayb's last paragraph echoes exactly how I feel too. As time goes by, and as I am getting stronger physically through exercise, the dark thoughts are fading away. I had a mastectomy, chemo, radiation and taking Tamoxifen, so I've done everything in my power to ensure the best outcome. I cannot and will not live my life in fear, worrying over something that may or may not happen, and that I have absolutely no control over. That would be really stupid. Instead I live one day at a time, and enjoy what I have now, which is great health and a new zest for life. Things may change tomorrow, and I don't want any regrets. Hope that helps!

You aren't alone and we are lucky to have these boards. I worry ALL the time and I had a PET scan that showed I was clear. Still those pains in my back, or a new headache, or a new tickle in my throat...and I worry. But still I get on with living life, which is what matters - with or without the fear depending on the day.

I looked this up at one point and found that SNB is accurate for roughly 96% of patients. So for about 4% it will not be as accurate as an ALND (so I guess it could miss positive nodes). Other studieds have shown no difference in outcomes (5-year survival/disease-free survival) in those who had SNB vs. ALND... so it does seem to be really accurate and lessens the risks associated with ALND. 

It's hard to trust all that. I always think back to, well, what if I'm in that 4%? I'm already in such a minority (BC found by age 30 etc.) that it's hard to trust numbers. Sometimes I wish I had full-body scans but I am too terrified to even consider asking my doc! I wish there were a way to get the "all clear" without risking hearing I have mets. If I did have mets, I don't know if I'd want to know!

The thing is, being early-stage with negative nodes and smaller tumors, plus hormone-receptor positive, we have such a great prognosis. And you're grade 1 which is even more promising! There are so many factors in your favor and you need to focus on that. It looks like you just narrowly missed stage I due to tumor size? So probably stage I statistics (98-100% survival etc.) are more accurate for you, stage II statistics lump you in with others with positive nodes or much larger tumors (not that stage II statistics are unfavorable or anything!) 

I am 7 weeks post-BMX and the aches & pains are subsiding a bit but yes, they are much more likely due to your surgery than the cancer spreading! Your whole body has changed & is recovering, you're sleeping differently, maybe less active, etc. of course you are going to have back pain & other discomforts.  

Jakig, is there are reason you are having the SNB separate from mastectomy? Mine was done all in one shot... so I only had to go under once, and my BS even used the same incision so I have fewer scars. It's hard to say how uncomfortable the SNB was since I was recovering from BMX at the same time. I didn't notice extra pain on the SNB side but a lot of women do (along with less range of motion on that side too). The injections and scans for the SNB were painless (they gave me lidocaine for the injections) and then I was unconcious for the biopsy itself during my BMX.

Nettie, some choose to have the MX instead because of high recurrence risk (family history or BRCA+ or other factors) or peace of mind, just knowing 99% of the breast tissue is gone, that no areas of cancer were hidden in there, etc. Also, some women cannot have radiation due to other health issues so would need a MX. Personally, I had multiple tumors in the same breast so lumpectomy was not an option.

Ahhh Jakig I thought you were having the whole SNB done separately! It sounds like you are just going for the dye injection a little beforehand & they'll still do the actual biopsy during the MX surgery... that makes more sense, that's more "normal."

OK so if you are just worried about the injection... don't be?? LOL I know, I know, easier said than done, & I'm sure people do sometimes have pain or discomfort when the dye is injected but mine was totally painless. They just numbed it with lidocaine (or something like that, I didn't feel a thing) and then they did the dye injections in several spots. I could not feel it at all. I was really anxious but it wasn't worth being anxious about! And no, it was nothing like having the core needle biopsy (which was so traumatic for me!), they are just using a tiny needle to inject some dye, they don't actually remove any tissue at that point, that will be done during surgery while you're unconcious.

Anyway, yes, beg the anesthesiologist for whatever you think you need... also wonder if you could take something like Ativan or Valium beforehand??

Thanks for the info, indenial. I will try to do my yoga breathing (I'm a novice) and go to my happy place before the procedure. I will also ask the anesthesiologist for a little help. I do have an Rx for Lidocaine cream , 2%, to apply hours before getting there, then again when I arrive, so maybe that's all I will need. I'm sure if I start screaming, they will calm me down. I did that when I broke my back in '85; I was on a stretcher in the hallway and I just began screaming. Screaming works in a pinch, so I'll keep that ace in my pocket too if it's too much for me. I'm a wimp when it comes to pain. I just am. Big baby? Yeh, that's still me. I own it. Just being real...

Hey, I made it through! The sentinel nodes biopsy was not bad at all. My anxiety was worse than the actual procedure. It burned, there were several quick injections, but it didn't last long. I have a couple of beehives on our farm, and to me, it was like getting stung by several bees at once, and then the burn lasts a bit and goes away. I wanted to post this because I'm a real wimp when it comes to pain, and I survived just fine. If you are facing this biopsy too, just deep breathe, know it's momentary, and best wishes for a similar experience.

Oh good, I'm so glad it wasn't what you feared. Hope you are recovering well!