Guest guest Posted February 15, 2006 Report Share Posted February 15, 2006 Ruth I don't know why the surgeon can't go back in...it was a totally separate incision they did for my sentinel node, nothing like that was ever mentioned to me before the mastectomy/tram-flap & sentinel node dissection. The surgeon ended up only having to remove 3 of my nodes. The surgeon removed them where the dye collected first and sent those directly to pathology to be tested to see if she needed to take more out. Mine where negative so no more had to be removed. Hugs, Jackie -- Sentinel node biopsy Has any one had this done on its own, not in conjuction with alumpectomy or mastectomy. If so could you please let me know yourexperience, what type of anesthesia was used, length of time healing,etc. I am in an absolute quandry. If I have one of thereconstructions that uses my own tissue at the same time as themastectomy, the sentinel node will be taken during the mastectomy andtested by frozen section. Even if it comes back clear the surgeonwill take the first layer of nodes as he will not have a complete pathreport and apparently if your own tissue is used the surgeon cannot goback in later and take the nodes if the full path report showsinvolvment of the sentinel node. I am wonder if I should have thesentinel node biopsy, on its own, before surgery so a full pathologywork up could be done and I know where I stand, before the mastectomyand reconstruction? This making intellegent decisions is HARD!!!!!Ruth Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 16, 2006 Report Share Posted February 16, 2006 According to my surgeon they do a frozen section on the sentinel node. If it comes out - they will remove the first layer of nodes about 3 as a full pathology report might show up cancer where the frozen section is not as accurate a test. If the frozen section comes out + they will take out all the nodes. Believe me I want as few nodes take out as possible. This is on the right side which is doniment. Wouldn't you think this mass would have been discriminating to be on the left? Ruth > > Ruth I don't know why the surgeon can't go back in...it was a totally > separate incision they did for my sentinel node, nothing like that was ever > mentioned to me before the mastectomy/tram-flap & sentinel node dissection. > The surgeon ended up only having to remove 3 of my nodes. The surgeon > removed them where the dye collected first and sent those directly to > pathology to be tested to see if she needed to take more out. Mine where > negative so no more had to be removed. > > Hugs, > Jackie > > -- Sentinel node biopsy > > Has any one had this done on its own, not in conjuction with a > lumpectomy or mastectomy. If so could you please let me know your > experience, what type of anesthesia was used, length of time healing, > etc. I am in an absolute quandry. If I have one of the > reconstructions that uses my own tissue at the same time as the > mastectomy, the sentinel node will be taken during the mastectomy and > tested by frozen section. Even if it comes back clear the surgeon > will take the first layer of nodes as he will not have a complete path > report and apparently if your own tissue is used the surgeon cannot go > back in later and take the nodes if the full path report shows > involvment of the sentinel node. I am wonder if I should have the > sentinel node biopsy, on its own, before surgery so a full pathology > work up could be done and I know where I stand, before the mastectomy > and reconstruction? This making intellegent decisions is HARD!!!!! > Ruth > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 23, 2006 Report Share Posted March 23, 2006 Hi Ruth, I take Emla before my IVs (I have a port). The first time I took it, I felt a tingly/numbing sensation and did not feel the prick when the needle was placed in the port. Are these radioactive 'shots' for a sentinel node biopsy? I had the shots the day of my SNB & lumpectomy. - ruthiema36 wrote on 3/23/2006, 8:50 AM: > I am scheduled to go in to get the radioactive " shots " in the breast > CRINGE the day before my mastectomy. The NP has perscribed Emla cream > to be applied LIBERALY two hours before and covered with plastic wrap. > This is to all be left in place until I have the shots. It is > supposed to numb the the area for an hour after removal. Anyone have > experience with this method of numbing and how did it work for you? > Thanks, so much, for the imput. > Ruth > PS I have no fear of the cancer. It has been hiding, undetected by > mammogram, for many years, behind dense tissue. It is a part of me. > So much for the " gold standard " , for me at least. What I fear most is > the treatments for the cancer! > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 23, 2006 Report Share Posted March 23, 2006 I had my radioactive shots an hour before surgery. Jackie -- Re: Sentinel node biopsy ,Thanks for the reassurance. Yup, shots for sentinel node biopsy. Iam hoping the reason I am having the shots the day before is becausethey will be doing my surgery early the next day. Won't know exactlywhat time the surgery is scheduled until the day before.Ruth>> Hi Ruth,> > I take Emla before my IVs (I have a port).> The first time I took it, I felt a tingly/numbing sensation and did not > feel the prick when the needle was placed in the port.> > Are these radioactive 'shots' for a sentinel node biopsy?> I had the shots the day of my SNB & lumpectomy.> > - > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 23, 2006 Report Share Posted March 23, 2006 I had one radioactive shot for my SNB. Here's what I learned, if you have fatty breasts, you have to massage the stuff towards your lymph nodes, or you can hang around the stupid nuclear room for several hours waiting for your nodes to light up. The shot didn't hurt at all, and I am a Huge Needle Freak. Basically, they do it to mimic the action of lymph fluid, to see which ones any cancer cells would go to first. The do a quick biopsy on those during surgery, and if they turn up positive, they take all your lymph nodes for further biopsy. Or at least that's what they did for me on Friday. Take care, R. --- wrote: > Ruth, > > I did not have the cream or any pain medication before the SNB > radioactive shots. The emla cream will numb the skin surface, but > some > of the shots go pretty deep. As I remember it, you're small like me, > so > maybe you can request something more to dull the pain. > > The doctor told me novacaine shots would hurt as much as the > radioactive > shots. I had 5 or 6. Some of them were quite painful, but I got > through > it as I'm sure you will. I don't mean to scare you, but just ask for > as > much pain medication as they can give you! > > - > > ruthiema36 wrote on 3/23/2006, 9:07 AM: > > > , > > Thanks for the reassurance. Yup, shots for sentinel node biopsy. > I > > am hoping the reason I am having the shots the day before is > because > > they will be doing my surgery early the next day. Won't know > exactly > > what time the surgery is scheduled until the day before. > > Ruth > > > > > > > > Hi Ruth, > > > > > > I take Emla before my IVs (I have a port). > > > The first time I took it, I felt a tingly/numbing sensation and > did not > > > feel the prick when the needle was placed in the port. > > > > > > Are these radioactive 'shots' for a sentinel node biopsy? > > > I had the shots the day of my SNB & lumpectomy. > > > > > > - > > > > > > > > __________________________________________________ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 23, 2006 Report Share Posted March 23, 2006 Only one! According to the literature, the breast surgeon gave me, " the Nulear Medicine Department will inject a radioactive substance in 4 or 5 areas around the tumor or biopsy site in your breast " . I have itty, bitty breasts, no fat, just dense tissue behind which the cancer hid for many years. If they do it in 5 sites that will include most of the breast! AAAAAKKKKKK!!!! I am also having it the day prior to surgery so that gives it more time to travel to the sentinel node. Boy, can't wait to have this all over with. The MRI didn't show any involvement of the lymph nodes so hope that works in my favor. The tumor it self, lite right up. You can even see where the core biopsy was taken. Ruth > > > > > > > > Hi Ruth, > > > > > > > > I take Emla before my IVs (I have a port). > > > > The first time I took it, I felt a tingly/numbing sensation and > > did not > > > > feel the prick when the needle was placed in the port. > > > > > > > > Are these radioactive 'shots' for a sentinel node biopsy? > > > > I had the shots the day of my SNB & lumpectomy. > > > > > > > > - > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > __________________________________________________ > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 23, 2006 Report Share Posted March 23, 2006 Hi Ruth, When we talked about the shot experience in another board I'm on, some women said it wasn't a big deal; others like me said it was painful. I compared it to the guiding needle I had placed when I had a biopsy on my other side several years ago. I'm hoping you'll have the less painful experience. As I mentioned, I didn't have anything before hand, so you'll have the cream at least. My shots were done the day of surgery. take care - Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 23, 2006 Report Share Posted March 23, 2006 My shots were done the day of the surgery too, about two hours before surgery. I had about 4 shots and they were quite painful, but nothing that a few good deep breaths could not handle. Good luck! wrote: Hi Ruth,When we talked about the shot experience in another board I'm on, some women said it wasn't a big deal; others like me said it was painful.I compared it to the guiding needle I had placed when I had a biopsy on my other side several years ago.I'm hoping you'll have the less painful experience. As I mentioned, I didn't have anything before hand, so you'll have the cream at least. My shots were done the day of surgery.take care - Yahoo! Messenger with Voice. PC-to-Phone calls for ridiculously low rates. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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