Sentinel node not identified

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Irony
Irony Member Posts: 46
edited February 2017 in IDC (Invasive Ductal Carcinoma)

I had BMX yesterday with sentinel node biopsy of left side. I had a small IDC about 6mm, er+/pr+, her2 -, ki-67 5%.

I opted for mastectomy due to prior and impending heart surgery to avoid radiation to my heart and left lung.

I had a sentinel node injection at 11am. Surgery happened at 3.

After surgery my BS told my husband that the isotope did not pick up my sentinel node. They did a sonogram an my axillary nodes appeared normal, so they didn't remove any nodes at all. BC felt that CA was slow growing and highly treatable, so she didn't think removal of ax nodes was needed.

Has this happened to anyone else. I'm worried that something may be missed.


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  • DeeEm
    DeeEm Member Posts: 7
    edited January 2017

    Hi Irony,

    I had left mastectomy for what was thought to be DCIS stage 0 only, but subsequently an area of IDC ER - PR - Her 2 + was found in the breast tissue when it was examined in the lab.

    No sentinel lymph node biopsy was done but mammary lymph nodes found within the breast tissue (three total) tested negative. The area of IDC was only 2 mm. Because it was so small, my oncologist feels that chance of metastasis almost nil. I had an MRI prior to surgery that did not visualize any abnormal lymph nodes and my oncologist doesn't feel any more workup is necessary. She's not starting herceptin for the Her 2 status because this area was only 2 mm.

    I'm nervous and getting a second opinion.



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  • cliff
    cliff Member Posts: 290
    edited February 2017

    SENTINAL NODE INJECTION. not my favorite thing. no "numbing cream" or warning, just enough pain to make me cuss. I was wondering why there were so many nurses around the table when they did it. I had to ask my surgeon afterwards how many died from heart attacks from the pain. the only real pain from any of the tests and the operation its self.

    even today, if I find my eyes drying out driving at night, I just say "sentinel node injection" and they start to water.

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  • Emily2008
    Emily2008 Member Posts: 605
    edited February 2017

    This hasn't happened to me, but I will say that it sounds reasonable. Having an axillary node dissection is a HUGE operation, and you def don't want it unless it's really necessary. It sounds like your treatment plans are reasonable given the findings of your tumor and I wouldn't worry too much (easier said than done, I know!) Will you be on Tamoxifen?


    And Cliff---I'm so sorry you had to have the injection with no lidocaine! The first time I had it done I felt every bit of it. Nightmare! The second time I was numb, so not a big deal.

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  • Kathy21
    Kathy21 Member Posts: 19
    edited February 2017

    I am really shocked about this whole sentinel node procedure in how it is performed from hospital to hospital. My cousin had surgery this month in reading they mapped her nodes the night before.

    I had surgery at U of P this month and no mapping - just injected after I was knocked out and two nodes removed? I did not even know they could be found in such short time? Anyone ever hear of this before? No mapping during 1/1/2 hour surgery from lumpectomy and one papilloma removal? Is the surgeon just so experienced she knows where it is? Test result even said no imaging requested.

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  • Shott
    Shott Member Posts: 5
    edited February 2017

    Mapping is typically only done if the surgeon is concerned about the dye traveling to the nodes which is a rare problem. There is a hand held device used during surgery that points right to where the dye containing lymph nodes are located. So, most places and experienced surgeons don't do the mapping test ahead of time.

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  • Shott
    Shott Member Posts: 5
    edited February 2017

    The surgeon did the right thing. Many times in a mastectomy they will find a few lymph nodes in the breast tissue. Wait for your final results and see if they find some.

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