My Breakthrough
Sentinel node biopsy
More and more surgeons are using sentinel node biopsy rather than node sampling or node clearance to find out if breast cancer has spread. It is a smaller operation and seems to be just as good.
It may mean that fewer women will need to have a large number of lymph nodes removed, thereby avoiding possible problems with their arm (lymphoedema). Sentinel node biopsy is only recommended as part of a randomised controlled trial or following an evaluated training programme. A training programme is currently being rolled out by the Royal College of Surgeons.
The lymph nodes are part of the body's natural drainage system, called the lymphatic system. Excess fluid drains out of the breast, just as it does from other parts of the body. It goes to the lymph nodes in the armpit. If there are any cancer cells in the fluid they will go to these nodes too.
The first node they come to is called the sentinel node. So taking out the sentinel node and examining it for cancer cells is a very accurate way of checking whether breast cancer has started to spread.
Your surgeon can't tell which is your sentinel node just by looking in your armpit. It's different for each woman. So a few hours before your breast operation, a doctor will inject a small amount of radioactivity around the tumour in your breast and then, during the operation, a blue dye.
These will show up which is your sentinel node, so it can be removed and examined under the microscope for cancer cells. The chances of detecting the sentinel node are better if both techniques are used.
If no cancer cells are found, you probably won't need any more surgery or radiotherapy to your armpit.
If cancer cells are found, you may have:
There is no evidence that one of these treatments is better than the other. So you will need to discuss them with your specialist and decide which is best for you.
The lymph nodes are part of the body's natural drainage system, called the lymphatic system. Excess fluid drains out of the breast, just as it does from other parts of the body. It goes to the lymph nodes in the armpit. If there are any cancer cells in the fluid they will go to these nodes too.
The first node they come to is called the sentinel node. So taking out the sentinel node and examining it for cancer cells is a very accurate way of checking whether breast cancer has started to spread.
Your surgeon can't tell which is your sentinel node just by looking in your armpit. It's different for each woman. So a few hours before your breast operation, a doctor will inject a small amount of radioactivity around the tumour in your breast and then, during the operation, a blue dye.
These will show up which is your sentinel node, so it can be removed and examined under the microscope for cancer cells. The chances of detecting the sentinel node are better if both techniques are used.
If no cancer cells are found, you probably won't need any more surgery or radiotherapy to your armpit.
If cancer cells are found, you may have:
- A course of radiotherapy to destroy any cancer in cells in your armpit.
- Another operation to remove the rest of the lymph nodes in your armpit. (node clearance)
There is no evidence that one of these treatments is better than the other. So you will need to discuss them with your specialist and decide which is best for you.
