› Forums › General Melanoma Community › Sentinel Node Biopsy
- This topic has 21 replies, 4 voices, and was last updated 12 years, 6 months ago by
POW.
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- November 9, 2012 at 10:02 pm
Hello I wanted to thank all that replied and brought relief to this distressed mother…I am in Nassau Bahamas and Ive been referred to a surgeon/onc next friday 16th nov. He will most likely want to biopsy my armpits and groin. I am just concerned with side effects or lasting effects from these incisions. I am anxious and can feel panic within me and although Im on anti anxiety & anti depressants my mind and nerves are beginning to freak me out.so im talking it out with you all and hope to get some experienced patients stories replies.
Hello I wanted to thank all that replied and brought relief to this distressed mother…I am in Nassau Bahamas and Ive been referred to a surgeon/onc next friday 16th nov. He will most likely want to biopsy my armpits and groin. I am just concerned with side effects or lasting effects from these incisions. I am anxious and can feel panic within me and although Im on anti anxiety & anti depressants my mind and nerves are beginning to freak me out.so im talking it out with you all and hope to get some experienced patients stories replies.
Ive no one with me but I am staying at a cancer care center where other patients are in treatment…watching them I admire thier courage,right now I dont feel strong and I dont know if I can rise up and fight being depressed and scared. I want to live for my children..and I miss them so much my mom is taking care of them while im here.
Besides MM Ihave other physical problems that need to be addressed..and really want a cat scan so they can see whats all going on and get treatment for it..
Im exhausted and fatigued all the time and it takes so much effort to move about.When evening comes I have had enough of the day even if I havent done much..just walking from my room to the tv area where i get online takes it toll.
Anyway,
I pray for strength for the patients on this site as well as my own.
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- November 10, 2012 at 9:42 am
I hope your surgeon isn't one that automatically jumps at completely removing all lymph nodes in an area. The fewer removed, the the easier the recovery, but they do want to get past the ones that the melanoma has reached into. My surgeon spend seven hours removing and sending tissue to the pathologist. As a result he did not remove as much as he could have done and I had a remarkable recover from what was still a very extensive superficial and deep node chains operation. He warned me in advance of the worsts that could happen and then worked to prevent it being that bad.
i can understaand what fatique and anemia does to ones attitude. Hang in there and fight!
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- November 10, 2012 at 9:42 am
I hope your surgeon isn't one that automatically jumps at completely removing all lymph nodes in an area. The fewer removed, the the easier the recovery, but they do want to get past the ones that the melanoma has reached into. My surgeon spend seven hours removing and sending tissue to the pathologist. As a result he did not remove as much as he could have done and I had a remarkable recover from what was still a very extensive superficial and deep node chains operation. He warned me in advance of the worsts that could happen and then worked to prevent it being that bad.
i can understaand what fatique and anemia does to ones attitude. Hang in there and fight!
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- November 10, 2012 at 9:42 am
I hope your surgeon isn't one that automatically jumps at completely removing all lymph nodes in an area. The fewer removed, the the easier the recovery, but they do want to get past the ones that the melanoma has reached into. My surgeon spend seven hours removing and sending tissue to the pathologist. As a result he did not remove as much as he could have done and I had a remarkable recover from what was still a very extensive superficial and deep node chains operation. He warned me in advance of the worsts that could happen and then worked to prevent it being that bad.
i can understaand what fatique and anemia does to ones attitude. Hang in there and fight!
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- November 11, 2012 at 9:36 pm
Jerry is right !!! you need to fight. First, Please be sure you are under the care of a melanoma specialist and surgeon who specializes in surgical oncology. I don't know where you are being treated but look into the other patients on this forum who are doing well at moffett in tampa. If I lived in florida I would go there. It is very depressing and you probably feel like you are getting kicked in the stomach but use this forum and the great people here to help you. I can;t tell you how they have helped me many times when I had a meltdown about my brother. Keep strong and please make sure you are under the care of a melanoma expert. Keep us posted and I pay for you also
Susan
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- November 11, 2012 at 9:36 pm
Jerry is right !!! you need to fight. First, Please be sure you are under the care of a melanoma specialist and surgeon who specializes in surgical oncology. I don't know where you are being treated but look into the other patients on this forum who are doing well at moffett in tampa. If I lived in florida I would go there. It is very depressing and you probably feel like you are getting kicked in the stomach but use this forum and the great people here to help you. I can;t tell you how they have helped me many times when I had a meltdown about my brother. Keep strong and please make sure you are under the care of a melanoma expert. Keep us posted and I pay for you also
Susan
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- November 13, 2012 at 1:44 pm
I am seeing this doctor on friday,I dont know if he is a melanoma specialist but he is a oncologist surgeon,and the doc who referred me to him said would decide what needs to be done..um I beg to differ with that statement..I am not having any nodes removed,they will have to send my blood to be tested.In 2010 the surgeon removed many from my organs during an hysterectomy this could be the cause of why I feel so lathargic. Im prepared for this event should he say he needs to do these biopsies.But my mind is future surfing so Im seeking peace and strength to get through the next few days. I need to go back to the island Im from to take care of my daughter,should I get bad news I will come back. I live in the Bahamas.The oncologists have a clinic he in Nassau. -
- November 13, 2012 at 1:44 pm
I am seeing this doctor on friday,I dont know if he is a melanoma specialist but he is a oncologist surgeon,and the doc who referred me to him said would decide what needs to be done..um I beg to differ with that statement..I am not having any nodes removed,they will have to send my blood to be tested.In 2010 the surgeon removed many from my organs during an hysterectomy this could be the cause of why I feel so lathargic. Im prepared for this event should he say he needs to do these biopsies.But my mind is future surfing so Im seeking peace and strength to get through the next few days. I need to go back to the island Im from to take care of my daughter,should I get bad news I will come back. I live in the Bahamas.The oncologists have a clinic he in Nassau. -
- November 13, 2012 at 1:44 pm
I am seeing this doctor on friday,I dont know if he is a melanoma specialist but he is a oncologist surgeon,and the doc who referred me to him said would decide what needs to be done..um I beg to differ with that statement..I am not having any nodes removed,they will have to send my blood to be tested.In 2010 the surgeon removed many from my organs during an hysterectomy this could be the cause of why I feel so lathargic. Im prepared for this event should he say he needs to do these biopsies.But my mind is future surfing so Im seeking peace and strength to get through the next few days. I need to go back to the island Im from to take care of my daughter,should I get bad news I will come back. I live in the Bahamas.The oncologists have a clinic he in Nassau. -
- November 13, 2012 at 1:45 pm
I am seeing this doctor on friday,I dont know if he is a melanoma specialist but he is a oncologist surgeon,and the doc who referred me to him said would decide what needs to be done..um I beg to differ with that statement..I am not having any nodes removed,they will have to send my blood to be tested.In 2010 the surgeon removed many from my organs during an hysterectomy this could be the cause of why I feel so lathargic. Im prepared for this event should he say he needs to do these biopsies.But my mind is future surfing so Im seeking peace and strength to get through the next few days. I need to go back to the island Im from to take care of my daughter,should I get bad news I will come back. I live in the Bahamas.The oncologists have a clinic he in Nassau. -
- November 13, 2012 at 1:45 pm
I am seeing this doctor on friday,I dont know if he is a melanoma specialist but he is a oncologist surgeon,and the doc who referred me to him said would decide what needs to be done..um I beg to differ with that statement..I am not having any nodes removed,they will have to send my blood to be tested.In 2010 the surgeon removed many from my organs during an hysterectomy this could be the cause of why I feel so lathargic. Im prepared for this event should he say he needs to do these biopsies.But my mind is future surfing so Im seeking peace and strength to get through the next few days. I need to go back to the island Im from to take care of my daughter,should I get bad news I will come back. I live in the Bahamas.The oncologists have a clinic he in Nassau. -
- November 13, 2012 at 1:45 pm
I am seeing this doctor on friday,I dont know if he is a melanoma specialist but he is a oncologist surgeon,and the doc who referred me to him said would decide what needs to be done..um I beg to differ with that statement..I am not having any nodes removed,they will have to send my blood to be tested.In 2010 the surgeon removed many from my organs during an hysterectomy this could be the cause of why I feel so lathargic. Im prepared for this event should he say he needs to do these biopsies.But my mind is future surfing so Im seeking peace and strength to get through the next few days. I need to go back to the island Im from to take care of my daughter,should I get bad news I will come back. I live in the Bahamas.The oncologists have a clinic he in Nassau.
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- November 11, 2012 at 9:36 pm
Jerry is right !!! you need to fight. First, Please be sure you are under the care of a melanoma specialist and surgeon who specializes in surgical oncology. I don't know where you are being treated but look into the other patients on this forum who are doing well at moffett in tampa. If I lived in florida I would go there. It is very depressing and you probably feel like you are getting kicked in the stomach but use this forum and the great people here to help you. I can;t tell you how they have helped me many times when I had a meltdown about my brother. Keep strong and please make sure you are under the care of a melanoma expert. Keep us posted and I pay for you also
Susan
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- November 16, 2012 at 9:21 pm
I just got back and had to settle and relax a bit,my blood pressure is at stroke level and I needed to take my blood pressure pills.I thought I would fly home this afternoon but the plane was booked out so tomorrow Im off to see my children who I miss dearly.
Dr.Francis told me that the depth level goes more then 1.0 mm this the need for Sentinel Node BIOPSY .
ON MY PATHOLOGY report it was depth level 1.25 and clarks level 4..he say because its more then 1.0mm I need to have this done looking for the positive nodes.
Therefore he wants to send me to The Heart Center to have a Nuclear Medicine scan where he puts the dye in and he can see where he can operate and remove them.& where the incision is the nodes all from my neck,armpit to my groin has to be looked at. This is time consuming.
He give me appt for two weeks to get this done…the surgery is free [public]but the scan is a thousand dollars at the Heart Center.
Im thinking suppose there is nothing there to find? Then I will be living with the consequences of this procedure. He says blood tests nor catscan will not show what he needs to see.
This decision to come back will have to be for the 30th Nov.2012 otherwise I wont get in until after the new year.
Im going home..Im going to change my diet completely find everything that’s organic,or vit and minerals that fights cancer and pray for complete healing.
then again if I dont do it I will be in turmoil..
Can anyone of you tell me how the SNB affected you?
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- November 18, 2012 at 8:38 pm
I wanted to add what else the doctor had said..that only the dye scan is needed and he cant use c-scan-bloodwork,I asked him to do this.He also said he is not a specialist in melanoma but he knows enough to operate,scan etc.I just finished reading on this site that some doctors have all these scans done looking for melanoma in the body..see he works a public clinic and a private one.Right now I bet hes just wanting the money for the dye injection scan which is in his office and as a public doc he does surgery free..
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- November 18, 2012 at 8:38 pm
I wanted to add what else the doctor had said..that only the dye scan is needed and he cant use c-scan-bloodwork,I asked him to do this.He also said he is not a specialist in melanoma but he knows enough to operate,scan etc.I just finished reading on this site that some doctors have all these scans done looking for melanoma in the body..see he works a public clinic and a private one.Right now I bet hes just wanting the money for the dye injection scan which is in his office and as a public doc he does surgery free..
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- November 19, 2012 at 3:27 am
When sentinel node biopsies were first invented almost 20 years ago, they injected a blue dye near the lesion. The surgeon then operated and tried to find and remove any blue lymph nodes. It is my understanding that nowadays they inject a blue dye and a tiny bit of radioactive material. They can see the radioactive material on a CT scan and that helps the surgeon find the lymph nodes. Finding the sentinel lymph nodes can be very tricky. It is not major surgery but it does require skill and experience. If it is not possible for you to get the radioactive/CT technique, the blue dye alone may be OK. But I would be sure I went to a surgeon with a lot of experience finding sentinel lymph nodes (which probably means a surgical oncologist). The only way to correctly stage your melanoma is to see if the cancer had spread to any nearby lymph nodes.
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- November 19, 2012 at 3:27 am
When sentinel node biopsies were first invented almost 20 years ago, they injected a blue dye near the lesion. The surgeon then operated and tried to find and remove any blue lymph nodes. It is my understanding that nowadays they inject a blue dye and a tiny bit of radioactive material. They can see the radioactive material on a CT scan and that helps the surgeon find the lymph nodes. Finding the sentinel lymph nodes can be very tricky. It is not major surgery but it does require skill and experience. If it is not possible for you to get the radioactive/CT technique, the blue dye alone may be OK. But I would be sure I went to a surgeon with a lot of experience finding sentinel lymph nodes (which probably means a surgical oncologist). The only way to correctly stage your melanoma is to see if the cancer had spread to any nearby lymph nodes.
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- November 19, 2012 at 3:27 am
When sentinel node biopsies were first invented almost 20 years ago, they injected a blue dye near the lesion. The surgeon then operated and tried to find and remove any blue lymph nodes. It is my understanding that nowadays they inject a blue dye and a tiny bit of radioactive material. They can see the radioactive material on a CT scan and that helps the surgeon find the lymph nodes. Finding the sentinel lymph nodes can be very tricky. It is not major surgery but it does require skill and experience. If it is not possible for you to get the radioactive/CT technique, the blue dye alone may be OK. But I would be sure I went to a surgeon with a lot of experience finding sentinel lymph nodes (which probably means a surgical oncologist). The only way to correctly stage your melanoma is to see if the cancer had spread to any nearby lymph nodes.
-
- November 18, 2012 at 8:38 pm
I wanted to add what else the doctor had said..that only the dye scan is needed and he cant use c-scan-bloodwork,I asked him to do this.He also said he is not a specialist in melanoma but he knows enough to operate,scan etc.I just finished reading on this site that some doctors have all these scans done looking for melanoma in the body..see he works a public clinic and a private one.Right now I bet hes just wanting the money for the dye injection scan which is in his office and as a public doc he does surgery free..
-
- November 16, 2012 at 9:21 pm
I just got back and had to settle and relax a bit,my blood pressure is at stroke level and I needed to take my blood pressure pills.I thought I would fly home this afternoon but the plane was booked out so tomorrow Im off to see my children who I miss dearly.
Dr.Francis told me that the depth level goes more then 1.0 mm this the need for Sentinel Node BIOPSY .
ON MY PATHOLOGY report it was depth level 1.25 and clarks level 4..he say because its more then 1.0mm I need to have this done looking for the positive nodes.
Therefore he wants to send me to The Heart Center to have a Nuclear Medicine scan where he puts the dye in and he can see where he can operate and remove them.& where the incision is the nodes all from my neck,armpit to my groin has to be looked at. This is time consuming.
He give me appt for two weeks to get this done…the surgery is free [public]but the scan is a thousand dollars at the Heart Center.
Im thinking suppose there is nothing there to find? Then I will be living with the consequences of this procedure. He says blood tests nor catscan will not show what he needs to see.
This decision to come back will have to be for the 30th Nov.2012 otherwise I wont get in until after the new year.
Im going home..Im going to change my diet completely find everything that’s organic,or vit and minerals that fights cancer and pray for complete healing.
then again if I dont do it I will be in turmoil..
Can anyone of you tell me how the SNB affected you?
-
- November 16, 2012 at 9:21 pm
I just got back and had to settle and relax a bit,my blood pressure is at stroke level and I needed to take my blood pressure pills.I thought I would fly home this afternoon but the plane was booked out so tomorrow Im off to see my children who I miss dearly.
Dr.Francis told me that the depth level goes more then 1.0 mm this the need for Sentinel Node BIOPSY .
ON MY PATHOLOGY report it was depth level 1.25 and clarks level 4..he say because its more then 1.0mm I need to have this done looking for the positive nodes.
Therefore he wants to send me to The Heart Center to have a Nuclear Medicine scan where he puts the dye in and he can see where he can operate and remove them.& where the incision is the nodes all from my neck,armpit to my groin has to be looked at. This is time consuming.
He give me appt for two weeks to get this done…the surgery is free [public]but the scan is a thousand dollars at the Heart Center.
Im thinking suppose there is nothing there to find? Then I will be living with the consequences of this procedure. He says blood tests nor catscan will not show what he needs to see.
This decision to come back will have to be for the 30th Nov.2012 otherwise I wont get in until after the new year.
Im going home..Im going to change my diet completely find everything that’s organic,or vit and minerals that fights cancer and pray for complete healing.
then again if I dont do it I will be in turmoil..
Can anyone of you tell me how the SNB affected you?
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