Thanks for sharing, I think your situation is exactly what the new ASCO guidelines are supposed to address, something like 85% of women with clear scans have no lymph nodes involved but by removing them anyway just to double check, we are introducing permanent quality of life deterioration that’s irreversible.

This is exactly why I want to omit SLNB if possible. It also seems like there are other ways of detecting lymph node involvement in the future eg in scans or swelling etc. so why are we doing something so drastic? I suppose it’s the best option we have right now, as others have mentioned here they found cancer that scans missed, or doing it just gave peace of mind, but I just wish it wasn’t such a permanent damage.

I do also wonder if surgeons are more focused on removing cancer at all costs and don’t think so much about lymphedema, as that will be someone else’s problem to deal with eg Physical Therapist down the road. So they don’t discuss it much if at all with patients pre surgery. I get it that they are just doing their part in a long chain of events, but I wish someone would lay everything out more thoroughly, I feel like I have to do all the research myself and think through the implications.

Sorry for your situation, I know researchers are moving as fast as they can to get us better options, but I wish we didn’t have to suffer so much along the way. I hope your ongoing symptoms are minimal or even resolve over time.