Did Your Sentinel Lymph Node Injection Hurt?

What?! I've never heard of that treatment. Do you mind sharing what they did that for?

Well, the injected radioactive material that detects the sentinel node, which is the first lymph nodes to which cancer cells are likely to spread. However, the nipple area is STILL bruised, after 2 wks, and still painful. Feels like he hit a nerve

I never heard of this either. Can it detect if that node is🍽️ cancerous.. or does it just show where the sentinel node is? Tks

Hi. Does it show if that sentinel node is cancerous or does it just show where the sentinel node is located? Tks

They do the procedure to check the lymph nodes under the arms.

Yes, it's done to check for cancer in lymph nodes under the arm.

Does anyone know the effects of removing the sentinel nodes under the arms?

Yes, sub q injection for dye. Area numbed for guide wire placement.

My incision on Sentinel node has been sore. I had a little fluid build up and I was doing exercises. Massage works better.

Mine was injected hour before surgery…. No numbing rite on the nipple…. UGH…. Boy they heard me in pre op that day…. Loudest Moth….r Fu…. Er that ever came out of my mouth….

That's true bullsh** that they don't numb it. No numb for guide wire placement, either. NONSENSE.

Sorry but they numbed me for the guide wire placement with lidocaine No numbing for dye.

I didn't understand why they wouldn't topically numb you and then also do a lidocaine injection. I'm going to ask my oncologist about that when I see him this Friday. I thought that sounded at crazy but I didn't want to say anything

It IS crazy. My blood pressure SOARED, I almost passed out...it was THE WORST.

I had the radioactive dye injection in the nipples as well. I bawled my eyes out! The tech and nurses did their best to forewarn me. But it was still quite a shocking experience. I was comforted immediately by my nurse and husband so I felt better within a couple minutes. But cried for a bit just bc it was all just so overwhelming . Doc removed and tested 2 lymph nodes. One tested positive. So most likely will need additions weeks of radiation. I am three weeks out from my lumpectomy and lymph node biopsies. My nipple was very sensitive up until just a couple days ago now. It’s healing. I placed gauge over the nipple just to keep it from rubbing on my bra or clothes. It helps. It just takes a little more time that I suppose we would like for it to heal. But it will. No discharge is a good sign. Wishing you well! 💞

No one forewarned me. I thought it was ridiculous.

Actually my nurse told me that many times, the patient is not forewarned. That is indeed ridiculous! But thank goodness that is behind us. 💞

I asked my radiology oncologist about the above scenarios and preparing the patient (regarding pain management). He said they (at the hospital I go to) would deaden the area topically and then do a shot of lidocaine. Did any of y'all get that with your procedures? This just sounds so barbaric to me, I just can't imagine. 😢

The worst procedure ever, must of been created by a man too

Melani, no. No numbing at all.

What is the reason to not numb it?

Heidi....NO IDEA.

My shot was into the actual cancer tumor. No deadening to the area at all. My experience so far has me feeling like cancer doctors assign you a number and just push you thru treatment as it suits their schedules. It took 3 lumpectomy surgeries to remove what was reported to be a very small tumor. I go Friday back to oncologist and in a week go for the mapping to start radiation treatments.

Thanks for bringing up this topic. The sentinel node localization with radionuclide was excruciatingly painful, 4 injections. Local numbing injections also would increase the pressure in the area. The stereotactic biopsy was another procedure that was extremely painful. Unfortunately there is no emphasis on making these parts of the journey a little more comfortable such as sedation prior to the sentinel node biopsy. The memory of it is seared on the mind.

RR....it was extremely painful. I have had people tell me they numbed it first AND gave them something to relax....