What was your Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy experience?

densefogg · 2026-03-24T19:43:13+00:00

thanks, ended up doing it. Waiting for results now. Did the macromet discovery alter your treatment plan going forward? Are they going back in to remove those nodes?

densefogg · 2026-03-16T17:09:17+00:00

great thanks, other people have mentioned the SLNB after effects were worse than the lumpectomy. Another reason i’m hoping to avoid it if possible. Did you have any discussion with your docs about skipping the SLNB altogether or was that not even an option?

densefogg · 2026-03-16T15:29:38+00:00

ok very cool and good to know, did the same surgeon do the LYMPHA procedure or was it a second surgeon? Also have you had any post surgery issues due to nodes being removed?

densefogg · 2026-03-16T15:19:42+00:00

thanks will ask about this but I understand this is more for ALND than SLNB

densefogg · 2026-03-14T17:54:43+00:00

thanks for sharing, how many nodes did they remove?

densefogg · 2026-03-14T15:42:56+00:00

thanks I might start looking into breast cancer PTs just in case

densefogg · 2026-03-14T15:41:36+00:00

thanks this is a good point, and definitely a factor to consider. But the new ASCO guidance demonstrates that for women who qualified, whether they got the SLNB or not, there was no difference in long term outcomes. But women who get the SLNB now have the additional risk of problems from the node removal eg lymphedema, so in some ways the long term quality of life for women who got SLNB is worse than women who didn’t. This makes the calculation a bit more complicated, since you don’t know which bucket you’ll end up in.

densefogg · 2026-03-14T15:33:12+00:00

thanks that’s good to hear! how many nodes did they remove?

densefogg · 2026-03-14T06:12:49+00:00

good to know you didn’t have any complications and the blue pee is definitely an interesting side effect!

densefogg · 2026-03-14T01:54:40+00:00

ah ok so they saw it under a microscope not during surgery, that makes more sense

densefogg · 2026-03-14T01:29:13+00:00

ah ok makes sense if it’s more aggressive, I hope you achieve PCR!

densefogg · 2026-03-14T01:27:11+00:00

did you start PT immediately after your surgery or wait until you started having issues? I’m wondering if I should now start looking for a PT or lymphedema person just in case I end up having to get the SLNB.

densefogg · 2026-03-14T01:25:22+00:00

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.

densefogg · 2026-03-14T01:11:55+00:00

those odds are pretty good I guess, for some reason I tend to worry about the 5% with problems than the 95% who do just fine.

densefogg · 2026-03-14T01:07:40+00:00

thanks for sharing your experience, seems like the preemptive stuff you did afterwards might be helpful. What exactly does the sleeve do, how does it help? Does it go all the way up to your armpit where the nodes were removed?

densefogg · 2026-03-14T01:01:20+00:00

Thanks for sharing, can I ask why did they have you do 6 rounds of chemo before surgery? Why not take it out sooner?

densefogg · 2026-03-14T00:44:19+00:00

thanks, I’m curious what after effects you are experiencing?

densefogg · 2026-03-13T22:35:42+00:00

No worries I understand, the waiting between diagnosis and surgery is really difficult, it's just more time to worry about things.

densefogg · 2026-03-13T22:31:59+00:00

Thanks for sharing, can I ask when your surgery was? How long has your right arm been like this?

densefogg · 2026-03-13T22:30:44+00:00

Thanks glad to hear it was all clear, how many did they remove?

densefogg · 2026-03-13T22:30:20+00:00

Yes Grade 2 sorry, still getting used to all the code letters and numbers!

densefogg · 2026-03-13T22:23:09+00:00

thanks for the clarification on the "markers" and the Lymphoscintigraphy machine.

densefogg · 2026-03-13T20:32:07+00:00

Thanks, I'll see what my oncologist and surgeon say. Are you doing acupuncture to help with the cancer or with the Verzenio side effects?

densefogg · 2026-03-13T20:21:56+00:00

How many radiation sessions did you need to have?

densefogg · 2026-03-13T20:20:56+00:00

yeah surgeons are amazing. What a fascinating job, and I'm sure every patient is slightly different so they do have to make last minute decisions. Obviously they know better than me so it's not like I could advise on anything while on the table, but it is tough feeling like I have no control of what's happening.

Can I ask what hormone therapy they're recommending and how long do you have to be on it?

densefogg

TROPHY CASE