Sentinel Lymph Node diagnosis

There seems to be a big difference in opinions of how to read the sentinel nodes.  I had 4 removed and 3 had isolated cancer cells/cluster.  1=.07,2=.03, 3=.03 in size but they are all classified as negative.  So what is the criteria for determining what is positive and negative within the sentinel node technique?  Is there really a clear difinition?  Or is the sentinel node technique still a work in progress to determine what the testing really means and what the treatment plan should be?  Please advise.

[Cleveland Clinic]

Dear Las1775:  From the information you provided, we cannot interpret your individual results.  In general, a node with cancer cells is positive.  You should clarify your results with your doctor.

[Las1775]

I have had lumpectomy on 2/5 and found .2cm invasive cancer. On 2/24 another lumpectomy to remove more DCIS and biopsy sentinel nodes.  3 out of 4 sentinel nodes where as follows:
#1: rare clusters of isolated tumor cells up to .07mm in diameter identified in H&E section of slide
#2: showing single cluster of isolated tumor cells .03mm in diameter, identified by cytokeratin immunostain
#3 the same as t2
#4: negative for metastatic carcinoma by FS, H&E, and cytokeratin stains.  
Based on this information do you have any additional information you would like to share?

[fleaq]

I was diagnosed with breast cancer in Feb 15th or so and had a bi lateral masectomy done on the 24th of Feb this year. I had nodes removed at the same time for testing and only one sentinal node showed less than a milimeter of a cell there. My Dr was in a debate with this because the rest of the nodes tested were negative. We didnt know weather to treat it as a negative node or a positive one. The way I looked at it at that point was this is my life and to me it showed even the smallest trace of this mean wretched disease then consider it negative and lets do what we have to do to get it out of there and kill it.
Having said that I opted for a lymph node dissection of the rest of the nodes in my right arm and all of them tested negative. But...you can never be too sure and the only way to get it all and fight back hard is to consider the options...all of them and carefuly disect the cells and get them out of you. This whole process at just turning 30 years old is scary and hurts like hell....but in the end after all the pain and issues with chemo I can say I did all I could do to get rid of it. My thoughts to you is to talk to your Drs about it and YES consider them negative and fight them and get clean. Dont take any chances...even if the options seem scary and like something you cant bear. We are women hear us ROARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR