SamH87 - you will have your lymph nodes tested as part of the surgery. You'll have a raduoactive isotope injected near your tumour site before your surgery (mine was an hour before and did sting a bit but hey ho...our breasts are aensitive areas!) which gives off a "signal" which they trace in surgery. Which ever nodes the signal flows to via your breast fluid will likely be the nodes that are removed. The surgeon may well put a blue dye in as well if the signal isnt strong which can stain your breast though.
I had surgery before chemo as my tumour was classed as being under 2cm. I was lucky that I didnt need the blue dye as the isotope signal was strong. I had only the sentinel lymph node removed and had a micromet in it of 0.66mm which the team at Leeds class as a negative node (if micromet) so no other nodes to be removed or any radiotherapy to the nodes for me apparently.
For all ladies awaiting surgery, some good advice is deffo to rest up but try and use your arm as much as you can (unless you have a drain then follow your Team's advice) and do the arm exercises that are given to you - they really do make a difference! Be prepared for numbness and tingling nerve pain afterwards around the scar site. This is pretty normal as the nerves in those areas are moved about during surgery but it should settle down. I had the nerve pain for a good few weeks but it settled down then. I still have some numbness around the scar site and I had surgery in mid October. As with anything though, you know your own body and if something doesnt feel right or worries you thwn contact your surgical team.
Good luck to all those ladies who are to embark on surgery after chemo ❤❤
Camilla - you really have had a rough time with your chemo and I must say I admire your determination throughout it all! Hope you are feeling a little better this eve.
Jo
