Hi
I was diagnosed with a very small grade 1 cancer on Thursday. I have been told that the day before the operation on the 21st September, I need to attend the nuclear medicine centre to have a dye injected into my breast to identify the sentinel lymph node and also the day of the operation to have a wire inserted so that the surgeon knows exactly where the lump is.
I’ve read some of the liturature and quite honestly the things they are saying have frightened me to death.
Has anyone else had to undergo these things and what is it REALLY like.
Sorry you are having to go through this. I too had a wire inserted to locate the lump for the surgeon on the day of the op. Although like you I was anxious the proceedure was nothing to worry about. The wire was put in by the radiographer and guided to the correct place by ultrasound. I then had a mammogram to check it was in the correct place. The surgeon looked at this when he came to see me prior to the op. I had the dye put in during the operation so can’t comment on that.Sorry.
Wishing you all the best. Hope all goes really well for you.
Take care xx
I just had the same procedures done 12 days ago. I didnt find any of them painful. The radioactive dye stung a tiny bit and during the wire insertion it just felt like someone pushing on my boob.I know both things sound scary but they really werent bad at all.
I am actually having the wire, the radioactive injection and the op on Tuesday so I will let you know how it goes. You have the dye put in whilst you are under GA. I have been told the wire thing isn’t as bad as having the biopsy done.
I am sure there will be lots more ladies on here shortly who have already had it done.
It was much worse in my head than it was in reality. The wire insertion was done after a local anaesthetic which was administered with a really fine needle, and numbing cream was put on before that! The jab was not even as bad as a fine needle biopsy, and tons better than the core biopsy I had. It was the stress of what I was doing and why I was doing it, and the imminent operation, that scared me but the actual reality was ok. Good luck,
Can only agree with what everyone else has said: it really is no big deal.
In my case, as I was still feeling rather stunned at the speed of events, I didn’t look up any additional info on what was to be done and had only taken in a rather vague version of what the doctor and BCN had said. In my case I think this actually helped!
Another younger woman was having the procedure at the same time as me; she had to go first because she had got herself into something of a state about the whole thing and ‘re-inforcements’ had to be called up to calm her. Because of her I had to wait an extra long time and felt somewhat peeved about this: I know it sounds rather unsympathetic but I think my irritation with her helped dampen any anxiety I might have had!
I’m sure you will be OK . Good luck.
Mary
For the sentinel node, I had a radioactive dye injected beforehand (much less painful than a dentist’s injection) and then a scan of some kind so they could locate the sentinel node. The blue dye was done after anaesthetic. So it might be the radioactive dye you’ve been told about. It’s really nothing major, though the whole thing seems very surreal because it’s all happened so quickly. Can’t help with the wire, but lots of people on here can.
Hi there I had to have 2 wires in the end and it took rather a long time ( a good hour) I didn’t feel much just got a bit chilly as they had air con on!!! As for the dye I too had it 'during surgery’It’s not bad, you’ll be fine …my mum had it too and she said it was ok too xx
KatyD …am curious as to where you had op & dye was done during op…which area??
Hi Kazann, i had the wire inserted & it was no problem at all, i hardly felt anything, it was inserted in just a few minutes then i forgot it was there. My dye was done under anaesthetic. Im sure u’ll be fine, good luck with it x
Hi Kazann, Must agree with the others,Having the wire put in was really ok. The leaflets I read before hand said it could take anything up to an hour. In fact it took just a few minutes and was not a problem just a little bit of pressure on the boob, and I mean a little bit.
Afraid I can’t comment on the dye because I didn’t have it.
i had to have 2 wires and it took a long time but even so it was fine-didn’t hurt-just felt grateful the surgeon would be able to locate the exact place-you will be ok x
When I had my wire inserted for the same reason as you, it did take several goes as my breast tissue is so dense. There was pushing and pressure on my breast but they talked to me all the way through it and I was not at all worried as there was absolutely no pain whatsoever. Even the local anaesthetic was only a tiny initial prick.
Directly before this I had the blue radioactive dye injected into my nipple. This did sting initially but after that I felt nothing and had to wait about 20 mins without moving so that they could track the dye to the sentinal node. This blue dye is still slightly visible around my nipple even 4 months post surgery but apparently this is quite normal.
Try not to worry as I am sure it will not be as bad as you think it’s going to be and maybe resist too much internet info. reading!!
The injection of the radio-isotope is not at all painful. It is not injected directly into the nipple but near the outer edge of the nipple. The area is gently massaged to get the isotope moving and than you are sent back to the waiting room to give time for the isotope to migrate to the sentinel node. You may experience a heat sensation from the radio-isotope, like holding a hot water to your breast. To be honest the most painful part of the whole process is lying on the table under the scanner with your arm over your head for 20 minutes. The blue dye is injected when you are under anaesthetic. Just to warn you, you will pee blue after the op. Bright blue; the colour of toilet duck. Also your breast will be coloured blue by the dye for some time. Some jokingly call it smurf boob. I still have a very small area of faded blue and my op was in April.
If you have been reading on the US breast cancer forum about their experiences with the injection, just ignore them. They either have extremely low pain thresholds or got into a contest about who had the worst story and may have garnished their experiences a little.
My sister had this procedure done twice in the US where she lives and her experience has been the same as mine.
I didn’t have a wire insert.
hi kaz, me too… i had same as your having… had wire fitted under mammogram guidance… just a pit of pushing and pulling to get it in to the correct possition… then off to nuclear medicine, a small injection in to the nipple… that came sharp to be fair, bit like a quick bee sting… then plaster on and wait 3/4 hr for the radioactive stuff to travel to the glands… then in a sort of MRI machine with my arms above my head, to make sure the glands were radioactive… then back to the ward to await my turn… they inject the blue dye when your asleep. so you dont know anything about that bit… woke up bit groggy at first, had a cuppa tea and a cardboard sandwich… haha nhs food …up and dressed in under an hr… and back home that night… next day… quite sore, but NOT agony. i had blue wee for 2 days and blue tears… blue stain on the bad boob for a cupple of months, started exercises as soon as i was awake…brushing my hair etc, back to normal with no ill effects in no time… it is the most scarey time for you now , the not knowing… but it really aint as bad as you immagine, just your mind runs away with you, but you will be ok xxx angie
Thank you SO MUCH all of you for your comments and you’re right it is fear of the unknown that’s frightening. I havent got a low pain threshhold and while the core biopsy was not pleasant, it was not as unbearable as I was led to believe - I was terrified!!! but the radiologist was great, really kind and understanding.
I’ve had a couple of very weepy days but I know that I can fight this and I WILL be ok.
Just wanted to put your mind at rest. I had the same procedure as you yesterday. I was a bit worried about the whole process but I can assure you it is fine. As the lovely ladies have already said the radioactive injection is just like a bee sting and only lasts for a short time, it really is fine. The wire is inserted under local anaesthetic it doesnt hurt but mine was a bit uncomfortable with lots of pushing and pulling (my lump was a bit tough, not sure if that is good). Then off to theatre. Was at hospital at 7.30 in the morning then home by 3.30. I had a decent nights sleep at long last and the pain today is minimal, nothing that popping a few pills can’t rectify. Now back in the waiting room for the next step, RESULTS!!!