I have just been diagnosed with bc and my dr has recommended a sentinel node biopsy. Has anyone had this procedure?
Linda
Yeah on 7th may along with a WLE ( lumpectomy).
They put a radioactive dye into your body and this drains through the lymph nodes highlighting the sentinel- or the first lymph node under your armpit- they then remove it and maybe a couple of others next to it. Whilst i was under GA they checkd the sentinel quickly and because it was negative they left the other lymph nodes alone. You get the full results about 2 weeks later.
Its uncomfy for a week as you move your arm so much but i have been left with an inch long scar at the base of my armpit by my boob ( as well as a 4inch scar on my boob!). Swelling just going now and i can wear my wedding ring again!
sorry you are joining us but you will get great advice!
sue
Hi Linda,
Yes, sorry you’ve had to join us.
Sue has explained it all very well. I found out about this procedure whilst waiting for my diagnosis, and then requested it. I was so glad I did; I ended up being transferred to a better hospital and my nodes were clear in the end, so it saved me having a total node clearance unnecessarily. Anyone who is a candidate for the procedure should be offered it in my opinion, but not all hospitals have the facilities to carry it out.
Good luck with everything, if you have any more questions, let us know,
LXXX
I too had the sentinel node biopsy but using only the blue dye rather than the radioactive tracer. It resulted in my losing only two lymph nodes and i was very pleased that my surgeon is one who does the procedure. If you have the blue dye, your first lot of urine after surgery is blue…
Eliza
Mine was green 
Hey
No dye when I had mine, just radioactive stuff injected near nipple. I had SNB done at the same time as WLE. Have to say the injecting of radioactive stuff was not very nice, but a necessary evil, does not take long. I believe that SNB aviods more extensive clearence of nodes(I think! What do I know?). Not all hopitals do it.
Alice
My wee was green but my face was blue ! Well, not quite smurf like but a bit off colour… I only had the blue dye too ,only downside at my hospital was that if they found nodes infected you got results 10 days later then would have to have another op to have full clearance, but I also just had a WLE and again with that knew that if didn’t get clear margins it would mean another op(was “lucky” on both counts). Good luck !
Sandra x