Hello ladies!
I will have my surgery next Thursday for a lumpectomy and a sentinel nodes biopsy. The nurse told me that I will get a radioactive agent injected in the breast beforehand. She did not mention where in the breast the injection will be, Can anybody share their experience?..and I know this is not a really comfortable experience, but it does not last
Thanks!
Hi Geri - sounds awful doesn’t it but, truly not as bad as it sounds, and I’m a real wuss! Can’t speak for everybody can only tell you my experience. I had it the day before my op and it went in pretty close to the nipple. Can honestly say it was OK and over very quickly. Took me longer to get on the bed and whip gown down than to have the injection. I had no discomfort afterwards either as I remember - however, I was pretty hyped by the very prospect of the next day…
Hope all goes well for you. D
Yeah it hurts. No if’s and but’s about it but nothing about breast cancer is comfortable so it doesn’t really stick out in my mind as anything. It feels like a wasp sting but by the time you want to hit somebody in response it’s over with.
Hi
You will be asked to take off upper clothing and any bra and put on a hospital gown with the ties at the front
After they’ve checked they have to right patient you lie down, a nurse holds your hand, they untie the gown ,double check which boob is having surgery
The injection 
is like a very deep bee sting and the pain us sharp and instant, I was injected into my nipple ( I’ve had tattoos and I’d say this was more painful but over in about 2 minutes
In my case when the contents ( the radioactive nuclear medicine) were massaged around my boob this hurt more and I said a very loud swear word and clenched the nurses hand very hard
After doing this they then scan you and mark the sentinel node with a marker pen on your skin
If they can’t find it don’t worry they will scan you again when you are in surgery to find it
Some people say it’s OK, and they found the biospy worse and vice versa but in the scheme of things Al breast cancer related just breathe and try and think good thoughts
Good luck
Sounds as if this is one with a range of experiences. I was dreading it, yes, the needle does go in close to the nipple, it sounded awful. On the day however the person doing it was quick and efficient, and I barely felt it.
Just a head’s up as well, they caught me out on the day of the operation by deciding to insert a guide wire. I hadn’t expected it and it threw me a bit, but the surgeon’s assistant walked me to the department that did it and stayed with me until I was handed over, and yet again whilst not something I’d chose to do the sound of it was much worse than the reality.
Hope it goes well for you.