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Lumpectomy with Sentinel Node Biopsy Questions about Lumpectomy with Sentinel Node Biopsy. |
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| 12/10/2005 | I had a lumpectomy with sentinal node biopsy. 3.2 cm tumor removed grade 3, estrogen/progesterone positive, HER negative, some vascular invasion. Because of 2 dirty margins, the surgeon will have to go back. A micro met was found only in the sentinal node. three other nodes were negative. The doc wants to do a full auxillary node dissection because of the 20% chance that there may be positive lymph nodes. I'm worried about lympedema. I am 49, work full time and have a young child who I have to pick up all the time. I want to continue to exercise, lift weights in that arm etc. Can you tell me why an auxillary dissection would be nec at this point. Is it informational? If so, don't we have all the info necessary? The size of the tumor and the vascular invastion etc I'm already sure that I am definitely getting chemo. What new information will I get? And is it worth the morbidity associated with the auxillary dissection? Will the dissection and information found impact my survival .. i.e. if a positive lymph node is lurking won't chemo kill it? Thanks! | ||
| Replied | JHU's Breast Center Reply | ||
| 12/11/2005 | it would be used for staging and treatment. for example, if you had 4 or more nodes positive they would want to radiate your armpit area. so this is probably why. ask to meet with a radiation oncologist to discuss. | ||
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