Nuclear Injection pre-surgery

Are these barbaric injections only used for lumpectomies ? Or will I face this too, for the mastectomy ?

A good hospital has changed its protocols, gotten additional training, uses EMLA cream, etc.
Ask your surgeon to prescribe the cream, and about the procedure.
Many women have no trouble.

Hi Everyone! First posting here!  I figured i will have plenty of time to post details on my diagnosis and BMX, etc. but the reason I wanted to post ASAP is to let you know that for me the nuclear injection did not hurt AT ALL!!!  I've had 2 horrendous biopsies and I won't even go into the surgery part. 

I was ready for the worst and when they sent a nurse in to hold both my hands I thought "those gals warned me!"  Well they had given me a small tube of numbing cream. I put almost the whole thing on about an inch around the nipple. I was given a clear tape to put over it so it didn't all come off on my gown. I probably had it on about 30 minutes. Got wheeled onto nuclear meds. The radiologist gave me a shot of something numbing. I sensed he went slow. I didn't feel a thing. Then I could feel he was doing something else thought maybe another shot in a different area. Turned out it was the blue dye and radioactive stuff (or whatever it was called). He apologized ahead of time and said that the stuff can be "caustic" and uncomfortable. I did not feel a thing!!!  I didn't even know he was done so quickly. 

So I hope this helps someone. It is different for everyone. And yes my injection was right next to the nipple. Best of luck to everyone and I hope your injection turned out like mine. So far it's been the best part. 

NoNips, what great care they took!  I wish other hospitals would step up to the plate.  Luckily for me, my SNB was done while they did the lumpectomy.

I had a double mastectomy three weeks ago. I knew I was to have "mapping" with dye injected, but I thought it would be through an IV like it was for my MRI. I was shocked when the nurse explained the procedure! She also explained that it could be very painful. I had 5 shots to each breast and yes, it hurt, but it really wasn't that bad. The doctor was kind and gentle and I found out later his wife had had BC. I'm sure he's much more empathetic than other doctors.

I had my nuclear injection a day before the surgery and I never felt a thing. I applied the lidocaine cream an hour before my procedure and put plastic wrap over it. The Radiologist also gave an injection of lidocaine before the nuclear injection. Never felt a thing.

i have had this done twice ... right side in 2005, left on 9/11/14 (4 days ago), both times on the day of MX surgery.  My current surgeon had told me that it would be much easier than the first time, and it was... fewer injections (2), each less painful, less waiting between injections and surgery.  She also had told me that she would not usenumbing agents, since they could somewhat alter the path of the nuclear markers.  In the end, the lymph nodes were clear both times, and i was spared the more extensive surgery.

hi i just had same done today It was almost painfree so i guess its not the same for everyone

SENTINAL NODE INJECTION I remember that well, in fact, stil brings tears to my eyes every time I think of it. I got mine the day before, so they said they had to inject twice s much. up till then, tests and scans had been no problem, some I wouldn't care to have every other day or so, but that one! they had 4 nurses standing around the table, and I found out why. first one was a big surprise, and I cussed a bit I am ashamed to say. but I didn't climb off the table, turn green and tear down the clinic fortunately. I did sugguest to my surgeon that they find a less painful way,, someone is going to stroke out or have a heart attack.

I was told that the injuction was to mark the sentinel nodes so they could cut them out first to send to the lab before continuing with the mastectomy. if they were cancerous, then it had spread to the lymph system.

eastcoast - my surgeon was one of the pioneers of SNB and if he is doing a bi-lateral mastectomy he does SNB on both sides. Once the breast tissue is gone you lose the opportunity to test the sentinels and, while it doesn't happen often, sometimes there is undetected cancer hiding in the supposedly prophylactic breast. Other surgeons don't do SNB on the prophy side because it does increase your risk for lymphedema, and it leaves you without a "good" arm for blood draws, blood pressure, etc. This comes down to philosophy of the surgeon, and what they have experienced in their practice over time - risk of unseen cancer versus risk of unnecessary SNB. If you are having SNB on the cancer side only you will only get injections into the affected breast.

Also should add that mine are being done days(!) before surgery. Thursday for Monday surgery. And will again be done in the OR (they better use something or have me under by then). I really have no idea why. (MD Anderson)

eastcoast - most people don't have a dress rehearsal for SNB, as this sounds like what they are doing. The majority have the injections done day of surgery in pre-op or sometimes the day before, but most do not after they have been anesthetized for surgery. The percentage of people who are unable to have sentinel(s) identified is very small, so I don't think you are necessarily endangering an accurate outcome by waiting if you are truly afraid of this procedure. On the flip side, my experience - without lidocaine or EMLA - was not bad, bee sting type of discomfort that didn't last long. I think there are some that don't have a good experience with this part of the process but for most of us the anticipation is worse than the event.

Yes, this is an old post which revived after about 3 years 😜, but is still relevant . I had a bmx with one side being prophy. My surgeon only did an SNB on the cancer side and I was/am glad that the other side was spared so that I continue to have a good arm. I had my nuclear injection the day before surgery. I used EMLA and there was lidocaine in the injection. I didn't feel a thing. Best of luck

there is one good thing about the snb, if your eyes dry out when driving just say out loud, sentinel node injection, works for me every time, just the memory is enough to bring tears.

I wonder if some docs know where the big nerve bundles are, and aim for them?