Sentinel Node questions.

Thanks to  a wonderful member of this board I have some information about this procedure but I have a few more concerns. How long does it take? How much discomfort is normal for the injection portion of the procedure.  Can I take the bus or train home after the procedure? I live in NYC and don't spend money on cabs very often.
back soon

[Dr Santos]

Hi,

Most women who undergo sentinel node biopsy spend one day or less in the hospital. You will be injected with the dye and this will just cause a little discomfort. You can ask fr topical anesthesia to numb the skin if you like.  To dispel any worries it also helps if your doctor has performed a lot of this procedure and has successfully performed back-up axillary node dissections on a sufficient number of patients.Many patients who undergo sentinel node biopsy do not experience any side effects. However, some patients report post-operative pain, nerve damage, or lymphedema after the procedure depending on the extent of the procedure.  This link may be helpful: http://www.imaginis.com/breasthealth/sentinelnode.asp

Take care and all the best on your sentinel node biopsy.