I have Bilatetal breast cancer diagniEd since September 2019. In fact, firstly they found out only left sided, I underwent lumpectomy and full axillary clearance and another surgery to get more clear margins in November 2019. December ifound out another lump on the other side and was cancer. I had chemotherapy and in July 2020’i had a double mastectomy. Doctors only took one node from the right side to test and after two weeks I got surgery results which margins were clear and this node clear.
i am just worried that they tested only one node. What about if others has cancer?
l saw many women which they took 2 to 5 nodes to test and for me they only tested one.
I’m sorry you have had such a prolonged experience of breast cancer and surgery. The heading you gave your post suggests to me they removed or tested the sentinel node. My understanding is that the sentinel node manages the whole cluster so, if that is healthy, the other nodes will be healthy. You’ve also been through chemotherapy preceding the surgery this time (I had surgery first) so it would be unlikely any of your lymph nodes would still be infected and testing one is just the precaution.
If I were in your position, I would be ringing my breast care nurse to ask this question. Our opinions are only based on our personal experience whereas she will have all the necessary data on your particular cancer. I hope you consider that and that she is able to reassure you because I think trusting your team is of paramount importance in moving forward after breast cancer - and you can’t yet if this doubt is hovering in your mind.