Sentinel node biopsy on the good side: precaution or overkill?

ReadyAbout · April 2018

I'm having a double mastectomy & reconstruction in a few weeks and the surgeon will do a sentinel node biopsy on the cancer side to make sure it hasn't spread. She mentioned doing the same on the side that doesn't have cancer. She said that if they find cancer in the other breast after removing it, they will want to have taken a few lymph nodes as a precaution so they can check them. She said it's easier to get the lymph nodes out during mastectomy rather than later after I've started reconstruction and have tissue expanders. I asked 3 friends who have had invasive BC and none of them had lymph nodes taken on the non-cancer side. I am having second thoughts about allowing this - I've had an MRI and two utrasounds and the right side looked fine. I have papillary carcinoma in the left breast which is usually slow to travel to lymph nodes. I worry about lymphedema/complications, etc. I'm also extremely active and don't want to risk possibly having issues in both arms. I'm supposed to coach school tennis in August, for crying out loud. Anyone else have lymph nodes on both sides checked?

Meow13 · April 2018

No I didn't. But I am glad I didn't I have tightness on the side they took the SNB that was 7 years ago. Swimmimg is my only relief but it doesn't last.

SummerAngel · April 2018

As someone who had bilateral sentinel node biopsies I would recommend against having one on the non-cancer side. It's always something I have to think about when having blood draws, bp taken, etc. I now only have IVs done in my foot because I don't have a "safe" arm for IVs. I have an occasional ache in the area of the biopsies when I work out extra hard that I never had before, too.

Peacetoallcuzweneedit · April 2018

I think it is all a crappy crap shoot....I will say this - I did not have a node check on my right side - had MRI though. My left side had the SNB - BUT after final surgery IDC was found in my right breast...it was biopsied as lob neoplasia...so that was a surprise. It was a microinvasion so treatment did not change BUT I have had a mental overload thinking about the fact that WHAT IF it was there and I am doing nothing more. I dont take tamox because I had mastectomy and because Tamox benefit not worth the risks with a microinvasion. I think you just have to get to answer and find your peace...it has almost been a year for me and I am coming to terms with the fact that my right side was not checked...

NotVeryBrave · April 2018

I had BMX but only had SNB on the cancer side. There were some things that were being "watched" on the non-cancer side but nothing worth a biopsy. No one ever suggested a bilateral.

In my case - everything was clear on the prophylactic side and I'm glad that I didn't need to worry about the lymphadema concerns on both sides.

Balance101 · April 2018

My MRI showed something questionable in the lymph node on the non cancer side. For that reason, both sentinel lymph nodes were removed during my bilateral mastectomies. Everything was clear and I feel that knowing both sides were clear has brought me some peace as lobular carcinoma has a way of hiding or being hard to find at times. Surgery was a week ago, so I don't know what will happen as a result, but I was told lymphedema was just a 5% chance.

SLL101984 · May 2018

Readyabout- my mri found a small spot on my right breast so I am going for an mri guided biopsy this coming Thursday to rule out this exact situation. My surgeon is insistent on trying to eliminate taking nodes on both sides.

Balance 101- will you have issues with taking blood pressure and blood draws/IVs going forward? Just curious what you’ve been told in case I end up in your exact situation as I have ILC also...

Sentinel node biopsy on the good side: precaution or overkill?

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