Has Anyone Questioned Limited Lymph Node Removal in Breast Cancer?

3 we’re taking from my left breast. Before surgery a dye was injected near my lymph node. Nothing was showing but my oncologist decided to take 3 lymph nodes and the results came back as negative of lymph node involvement. It is a lot for us to take, worrying for something your doctor is saying is OK is worthless. Try to enjoy good news, be positive, and do your treatment. Good luck

Same exact thing happened to me. My surgeon thought she got a few nodes but it was only one when pathology came back. I had one micromet without extension. I had radiation therapy since my margins were close and I had extensive DCIS in addition to the small invasive tumor. I still worry though, only one node… I wish she got 3. I wouldn’t be so anxious.

I had 3 nodes, 2 that were cancerous, 1 was microscopic but they took a nodes.

They took 6 nodes

The surgeon removed two nodes from me. One was positive. They seem to be unconcerned about it. I’m struggling to figure out why they would take them if a positive result wouldn’t change treatment I’m due to start radiation once the incisions heal. Then hormone suppressants.

4 nodes taken for me, 1st metastatic, 2nd micro, 3rd and 4th clean. Im surprised they wouldn't take more than 1 but they ate the experts.

I had a specialist explain that the sentinel node is the main one and the other nodes follow like a string so if it’s only in the sentinel node and not the second node on the string it will not be in any other node. So if he said it’s only in the sentinel node then it is only in that one node. Hope that helps.

Thanks, Karen but not really my problem is they never checked a second node  my breast surgeon only got one that lit up  the best use statistics to tell me that it’s not in any other node however like I said they gave me radiation for that area because it was micro and I didn’t have any clinical nodes apparent anyways all I can do is pray I don’t think it really matters if it’s in one node 2 nodes three nodes  the cancer will have a mind of its own

My breast MRI was being done past 9 years, because of BRCA genetics, and at time of the cancer diagnosis, showed clean lymph nodes, but a very aggressive but small single breast tumor. The biopsy was high KI 95%. My surgery involved 2 surgeons because I opted for saline implants and skin-nipple sparing mastectomies for the triple negative cancer. Reconstruction is a personal choice and I have no regrets and had very little pain. With the dye injection to check lymphatic circulation, I had 2 sentinel nodes removed and 1 node in the breast tissue that all tested negative. Clean breast margins and no treatment was indicated, but my area Oncologist did question possible chemo because of the aggression. A second small breast tumor either grew or broke off, as I waited 9 weeks for the first surgery. Unfortunately, I did end up with a regional metastasis at the axillary node, found on scans 10 months later, and Oncology and the surgeons felt the cancer was in my blood all the time, as the tumor markers were up with post op checks, and scans. They stated this was very rare to ever occur. That’s when I began the intravenous chemo journey for nearly a year, repeat surgery post chemo to remove 2 more nodes, now found negative again, but now I’m on prevention PARP inhibitors that followed more chemo, that was orally. I’m closely watched, third PET scan soon (last one clean), experiencing fatigue from meds but overall very active and doing well. Cancer journey is different for everyone and many unknowns… I wish everyone the very best. Stay positive no matter what. So many treatments that are very helpful. 🙏

Sentinel lymph node biopsy has become the standard approach for many breast cancer cases because medical research shows it's often sufficient to determine if cancer has spread while avoiding unnecessary side effects from removing additional lymph nodes. Many patients share similar concerns about whether this limited approach is thorough enough, so these feelings are completely understandable. Consider discussing your specific concerns with your care team - they can explain how factors like tumor characteristics and imaging results guide these decisions and may help address your worries about the approach taken in your case.