Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy Care

Your doctor will do a physical exam. The cancerous tissue will be biopsied. Tests may include the following:

• Blood tests
• Urine tests
• A mammogram , in cases of breast cancer
• CT scan -type of x-ray that uses a computer to produce cross-sectional images of the inside of the body
• MRI scan -a test that uses magnetic waves to make pictures of structures inside the body

Talk to your doctor about your medicines. You may be asked to stop taking some medicines up to one week before the procedure, like:

• Aspirin or other anti-inflammatory drugs
• Blood thinners, such as clopidogrel (Plavix) or warfarin (Coumadin)

• The night before, eat a light meal. Do not eat or drink anything after midnight.
• Arrange for a ride to and from the hospital.

Depending on the location of the lymph node, you may be given one of the following:

• General anesthesia -You will be asleep.
• Local anesthesia-The area will be numb.
• Regional anesthesia-Your lower body will be numb.

A blue dye, and often a radioactive tracer, will be injected into the area where the tumor is. It may be done several hours before surgery. The dye and tracer will travel from the tumor area to the sentinal nodes. This will help identify which nodes are the sentinel lymph nodes. The doctor will make a small incision. The sentinel node (or nodes) will be removed. The removed node will be checked for cancer cells. If cancer is found, the doctor will remove the rest of the lymph nodes in that area.

If cancer is not seen in the sentinel node, it is unlikely that the cancer has spread to the other remaining lymph nodes. The other lymph nodes are not removed.

The biopsy takes about 30-60 minutes. Surgery to remove the entire cancer takes longer.

Anesthesia prevents pain during surgery. Pain medicines are given during recovery.

The result of the sentinel lymph node biopsy determines if additional lymph nodes need to be removed. It can also help determine the severity of your cancer.

Be sure to follow your doctor's instructions . Keep the surgical area clean and dry.

If you develop complications from lymph node surgery, you will need to take some special precautions:

• Do not have blood pressure taken, blood drawn, or shots given in that arm.
• Wear gloves to do dishes, household scrubbing, and yard work.
• Do not wear anything tight on that arm, including elastic in sleeves.
• Do not carry heavy packages, purses, suitcases, grocery bags, etc. with that arm.
• Keep the skin of that arm well-moisturized with a lanolin-containing product.
• Use an electric shaver if you wish to shave your armpits.
• If you had lymph nodes in your armpit removed during breast cancer surgery, participating in a physical therapy program may help to prevent lymphedema.