Sentinel node biopsy question

Ask our Nurses your questions
1

Hello,

I am newly diagnosed with BC. Biopsy showed 9mm Stage 1, Grade 1 -2. ER positive, HER negative. I had an MRI shortly afterwards but had to wait 2.5 weeks for results. The MRI thankfully showed no other areas of concern, however the lump was 12mm.

I’m now booked on for lumpectomy 6 weeks after initial diagnosis.

Can I ask if Sentinel node biopsy is positive what happens then?

Thanks for your help.

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Hi @coastal1 - I can only speak from personal experience and everyone seems to be different but I had a lumpectomy for an er+ pr+ bc (mine was 22mm though). Unfortunately my three sentinel nodes did show signs of cancer so I have had a lymph node clearance which is another day surgery. I’m just three weeks post that op and am feeling fine now, doing the arm exercises. Can’t tell you the next bit I’m afraid! as will see my surgeon on Weds.
Lumpectomy was really no trouble so please don’t worry about it. I would say the best advice is to take one step at a time and concentrate on getting over that bit. Best of luck for a good outcome! :two_hearts:
PS I should say the nurses will no doubt have a better idea of what happens when though!

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Hi @coastal1

So sorry to hear about your diagnosis but welcome you to the forum, which is a safe and supportive place.

As already mentioned if the lymph node biopsy is positive you may be offered a lymph node clearance but I have read in some instances they offer radiotherapy to the area. But I had negative lymph node biopsy so I can’t comment from experience just from what I’ve read about. Everybody’s treatment plan will be different and it is always best to talk to your own team about your treatment.

https://breastcancernow.org/about-breast-cancer/treatment/surgery-for-primary-breast-cancer/

I would suggest calling your own breast care nurse, as most units give you a contact for them or BCN nurses

  • Helpline: 0808 800 6000 (Mon-Fri 9am-4pm; Sat 9am-1pm). Speak to our trained helpline team. No questions are too big or too small.

As you are new to the forum I thought I would post some links that may be helpful.

  • Ask Our Nurses: You can message our nurses here on the forum, or confidentially. Whatever you prefer.
  • Someone Like Me: Will match you with a trained volunteer who’s had a similar experience to you. They’ll be a phone call or email away to answer your questions, offer support, or simply listen. Call on 0800 138 6551 or contact our email volunteers
  • Younger Women Together: For people 45 and under. You can choose the support that suits you: online, one day or 2 day residential events. Find an event.
  • Moving Forward: Finishing treatment can be hard, and it can be difficult to move forward with your life. You can access our support online or face-to-face. Our online information hub and Moving Forward journal provide extra ideas and information. Courses run over 2 weeks, with 2 3.5hr sessions. Or trained facilitators and volunteers are there to help. Find a course near you.
  • Publications: Download and order publications. You can read online or order your copy for free. From managing menopausal symptoms, hormone treatment or triple negative breast cancer, our information is here for you.
  • BECCA: Our free app is your pocket companion to primary breast cancer.
  • Speaker Live: sessions are on every month. They focus on the topics that matter to you, lead by expert speakers from across the UK. You can register for one of our webinars, and watch it live, or as a recording. We also have Facebook and Instagram Live sessions run by our clinical team on a huge range of topics. You can find them all on YouTube
  • Secondary breast cancer is full of uncertainties. But you can count onLiving with Secondary Breast Cancer to be there for you, no matter what. You’ll be able to talk, listen and learn with people who understand the challenges that secondary breast cancer brings. Our groups are open to people with a secondary diagnosis. Monthly sessions, facilitated by a therapist, are held in a variety of locations across the UK and online. Find a group. And if you are 45 or under? Our Younger Women with Secondaries Together events provide information and support
  • LiveChat: Open to people with a secondary diagnosis. A private chat room where you can talk to others in a similar situation.
  • Access Fund – all our events are free, but if you need help getting there or accessing our services, let us know. Email us at accessfund@breastcancernow.org or call 0345 077 1893.

I wish you well and keep us updated :smiling_face_with_three_hearts:

4

Hi, sorry to hear your diagnosis. I had a lumpectomy for 22 mm cancer last year with clear margins. However, they detected traces in first lymph node but not the second. I underwent 5 sessions of radiotherapy and currently on tamoxifen.

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Welcome to the forum.

I had a lumpectomy earlier this year. The tumor was 30mm er positive her2 negative. It had spread to 1 of 2 lymph nodes.

I was going to automatically receive chemo and radiotherapy but fortunately I was offered the oncotype test. This determined I would not benefit from chemo, so I just had 15 sessions of radiotherapy. I am on Anastrazole for 10 years and receive Zoledronic infusions every 6 months for 5 years.

I also had a CT scan to check if it had spread, which fortunately it hadn’t.

The journey has been a rollercoaster but having just got to the end of radiotherapy and next to no side affects from treatments I have come out the other side in pretty good shape.

I hope this information helps. I wasn’t offered all of this treatment by the NHS and wouldn’t have known my options if I hadn’t had health insurance. Hopefully if you know the options you can ask the relevant questions and receive the best treatment for you.

Wishing you well xx

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Thanks anne3, I’m glad your lymph node clearance went well and you are feeling fine. Good to hear about the lumpectomy - it’s over 2 weeks away for me so not too worried now, but I’m sure that will change the day before. Good luck on Weds, let me know how you get on if you can xx

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Thanks for your reply, I will look at all the resources you’ve posted, Someone like me sounds good!

My breast cancer nurse keeps changing, some are helpful, some not so, but I appreciate they are rushed off their feet. Perhaps I’ll give them another call xx

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Thanks Poorlyboob, sorry to hear about you too. I got the impression they would do radiotherapy with me too if traces in the lymph node were found, however didn’t ask too many questions because I just wanted them to get on and book my lumpectomy. I’m 46 so likely to be give tamoxifen too. How are you finding it? xx

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Thanks 66cherry, really good advice there and I will certainly look into all you mention if chemo is mentioned as treatment for me. I’m going to get health insurance after all this is over, have found the waiting unbearable. Bupa will cover you for BC if you go 2 years clear which is fantastic news. Good to hear you haven’t had many side effects. xx

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Hi coastal1
Been on tamoxifen for just over a year. Getting on okay with it. Just a bit tired. Only another 4 years to go :roll_eyes:. Let me know how it goes x

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Hi coastal1

Thanks for posting.

Following your diagnosis of primary breast cancer, it sounds like you now have a date for breast surgery soon and are having lumpectomy and sentinel lymph node biopsy. It must be a difficult time for you waiting and you probably are going through a lot of different worries.

It is understandable you want to know what happens if you sentinel node biopsy is positive and has cancer cells in it . As you will be aware the sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) identifies whether the sentinel lymph node (the first lymph node that the cancer cells are most likely to spread to) is clear of cancer cells. There may be more than one sentinel node. Sometimes called sentinel node biopsy (SNB).

If the results show there are cancer cells in the sentinel node, you may be recommended to have further surgery to remove some or all of the remaining lymph nodes, radiotherapy to the underarm or no further treatment to the underarm. You may be offered radiotherapy to the breast, chemotherapy or hormone therapy treatment.

It is important to know that, as @anne3 and @ naughtyboob says, everybody’s treatment plans will be different, and it is always best to talk to your own team about your management plan following discussion in the multidisciplinary meeting (MDT).

Talking to someone who has had a similar experience can often be helpful. Our Someone Like Me service can match you with a trained volunteer who’s had a similar experience to you. You can be in touch with your volunteer by phone or email and they can share their personal experiences to answer your questions, offer support or simply listen to how you are feeling.

You can ring the Someone Like Me team on 0114 263 6490 or email them at someone.likeme@breastcancernow.org, so they can then match you to your volunteer.

Do call our helpline if you would like to talk this through or have any further questions. The helpline team have time to listen, talk things through and signpost you to more support and information if necessary. Your call will be confidential, and the number is free from UK landlines and all mobile networks. The number is 0808 800 6000, (Relay UK - prefix 18001).

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Best wishes

Helen

Breast Care Nurse

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