Friday 22 March 2013

SLNB

I'm back down in the dumps and been a bit hysterical. Tiredness doesn't help. And I've been Googling, not a good thing.  Jill called to say I will need a Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy (SNLB) before my mastectomy.  This has been booked on the 4th April.

It's where blue dye is used with radioactive isotope (both in my case - I'm not crystal clear on the exact procedure).  The sentinel node is the 'on guard' node and is the first node in a group of nodes in the body where cancer cells may move to after they have left the original cancer. 

The radioactive isotope is injected near the area of DCIS and then a device is used to track it, identified further by blue staining. The benefit of a SLNB is that the surgeon only needs to remove the first one or two nodes that the cancer is most likely to drain into.  Once removed they are examined by a pathologist.  I won't know the results on the day.


If cancer cells aren't found in the sentinel nodes, that's good news. If they are that's not so good.

It's strange. I feel so well. In fact I'm never really ill and this procedure might make my perfect (physiologically speaking) body less perfect.  There can be side effects and tenderness that can last a lifetime. This worries me.

I'm trying to stay positive, and most of the time I'm not doing too badly. But this is an honest blog and honestly, at this moment I wish I could keep the status quo.

Talking helps. Just been doing that with someone who's already been through a mastectomy and node removal. Thank goodness for wonderful friends. I must stop roaming round the Internet willy nilly.

5 comments:

Rachel Selby said...

Sometimes too much knowledge is just unsettling. The chances are it will be fine and then what a waste of panic. Lots of love and I have everything crossed for you. xxx

the veg artist said...

It's understandable that you're up and down, and scared too. Try not to feed the fear too much if you can.

Maggie Christie said...

You look so well too, which is what makes this all so surreal. Stop Googling though! If you promise to stop Googling I prmoise to make you some almond brownies. Deal? :) xx

Rob-bear said...

Oh, dear! So sorry to hear of this "misadventure." I went through this with my wife back in the 1980s, when the procedure was so much more invasive. I do trust that everything will go well.

And I hope you'll take Maggie up on her almond brownies. Utterly no point in scaring yourself half to death over nothing.

Blessings and Bear hugs!

Lins' lleisio said...

I am feeling calm once more... I've stopped Googling and taking deep breaths - thanks Midlife Singlemum and the veg artist. I will definitely take Mags up on her almond brownies Rob-bear, two of my favourite things made with love too - what could be better. Thanks Maggie :)

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