Sentinel lymph node scan and biopsy operation.
“X marks the spot.”
The day before my sentinel lymph node biopsy operation, I had to have a dye injection and scan at the hospital. The purpose of this is to map out for the surgeon the location of your sentinel lymph nodes. Sentinel meaning the first lymph nodes that potential cancer has to travel through before reaching other parts of your body. Blue dye is injected into the breast, you are then scanned. The scan shows where your sentinel lymph nodes are located and the site is then marked with a cross.
This is routinely done prior to a mastectomy being performed to give the breast surgeon a clear idea of the extent of the breast cancer. The best case scenario is that your sentinel lymph nodes are clear indicating the cancer has not spread. If cancer is found in the lymph nodes, it means the cancer is invasive and there is a tumour.
What you don't expect is to wee like a smurf for a few days afterwards! Also your breast is left blue from the dye and can take a few months to return to it's original colour. This was the point when my breast no longer felt like my own, it had been poked and prodded and was feeling pretty sorry for itself. Apparently most women grieve for the breast they've lost after surgery. I'm not sure I'll miss mine.
The day of the sentinel lymph node operation, I was apprehensive but knew this was nothing compared to what was to come. You are put under general anethestetic and within around 45 minutes the operation is finished. It's typically a day case, I was back home by the evening feeling sore.
Commenti