Question about lymph node dissection

Chickory · December 2014

I had a lumpectomy 2 days ago, and my BS told me she would do a sentinal node biopsy. I had CT and PET scans that showed clear nodes, so only 1-3 nodes would be taken. My tumor was on the lower inside, just above the fold (a rare location), but during the prep the technician injected the dye in the upper breast. I said, I thought the dye goes in near the tumor, and she said no it goes in above the areola so it goes all through the breast and goes to all the nodes. That just doesn't make any logical sense.

When I woke up I was surprised to have a large bandage in my armpit. It hurt worse than my breast. Today I took off the bandage because the tape was bothering me and there is a 3 inch incision in my arm pit and it is very swollen. That doesn't look like a sentinal node biopsy, I thought she said 1/2 inch incision. I hope I didn't have to have a bunch of nodes removed.

Holeinone · December 2014

Chickory, my incision, in the armpit is about 3 inches. I think I was "under" when they shot the dye in, I have no memory of it being injected. My incision, after 18 months, is still blue. My MO even commented on it. I asked her if that was normal, & she said No !

They took a good sized chunk from my axillary. I have not had any issues....

Chickory · December 2014

I saw on the discharge papers that I only had a sentinal node biopsy, maybe that can be in the armpit. Also read that the dye has to be done just before so it could not have been dye they injected at 9 am when the surgery was at 2:30, it must have been the radioactive stuff which is suppose to go to all the nodes. Wish they would explain what they are doing to me. I'm just a bystander in this. There was dye used though, I was peeing windex for 2 days.

I did something stupid. I had seen the gyn a few days before and he handed me an anticeptic wipe. I told him I had an allergic reaction to it last time. I put it in my purse to use on my hands later. I had also had an allergic reaction to a betadine solution used down there but can use betadine on normal skin. That morning before the wire localization and injection i was very nervous and getting that stinky sweat so I used the anticeptic wipe on my under arms. I assumed that like the betadine, I can put it on normal skin. So since the day after the surgery I have a bright red rash in the armpit they didn't touch. Now I have a spreading rash in the armpit that had the node biopsy, it goes beyond the tape line so its not tape allergy and it is getting worse. Then this morning a rash showed up where there is no tape along side of my breast next to the surgery site. The chemicals from the antiseptic could have spread down there, or could it be cellulitis? I don't have a fever. I think I will take some benedryl and see if that helps.

SpecialK · December 2014

Your sentinel nodes are in your underarm, that is why the incision is near the underarm - totally normal. The size of your incision is also normal, it would be difficult for the surgeon to access the axilla with a 1/2 inch incision. I have read of a few people who have had the dye/tracer injections closer to the tumor but the vast majority of us get the injections at the areola - also normal procedure. The purpose of sentinel node biopsy (SNB) is for the material to travel through the breast tissue to the first node (the sentinel) away from the breast in the axilla (underarm), as this node is the most likely to show a spread of cancer outside the breast. My dye and tracer were injected while I was in pre-op and I did have a time lag before the surgery itself - also normal. It takes some time for the dye to travel and accurately color the sentinel to be removed, and you want a concentration of the dye/tracer so that the surgeon knows exactly which node is the sentinel. The reason nodes are sampled this way is to decrease damage to the lymph system while still providing accurate information so that you can be properly staged and receive appropriate treatment. Bruising on your hand after an IV is also very common. If you are concerned about the rash you should probably call your surgeon - they can phone in a prescription for you if the Benadryl does not help.

Question about lymph node dissection

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