Sentinel Node injection not where cancer was located

[KerryyrreK]

I had DCIS in a biopsy and lots of other "naughty" cells and tissue.  I opted for a  mastectomy with immediate DIEP reconstruction.  The mastectomy surgeon insisted on a sentinal lymph node biopsy which came back clear of cancer.  The biopsy was done here at home one week prior to the mastectomy/DIEP surgery, as I had to travel out of town for that procedure.  

The pathology from the mastectomy revealed a 1.1 centimeter of invasive ductal carcinoma, however it was located in the lower inner quadrant of my breast, where as the SLNB injections were in the outer middle of the breast, about the 3:00 o'clock position.

I am now worried that we did not biopsy the correct node, and there may be cancer lurking in another node, perhaps one in the center of my chest.

What is your insight, and what should I do at this point.  My oncologist and hometown surgeon are consulting, but have not gottem back with me yet and I am sinking into a panic.

Thank you in advance for your time,

Kerry

[lhughes69]

My sentinal node injection was into the nipple, the nodes themselves were towards my armpit, but not quite into the armpit.  They use radiation to find where the injection flows via the lymph system.  It's pretty cool.  The sentinal node biopsy is to see if the cancer has spread to your lymph nodes and could therefore get into your system and show up as metastasis in other places (bone, liver, etc).  If your sentinal nodes are clear, then the cancer remained in the breast and had not yet migrated out via the lymph system.  Where your lump is has nothing to do with the lymphatic system, that's entirely different.

Hope this was helpful to you.
Lisa

[KerryyrreK]

Thank you Lisa.  I am quite relieved to hear from you.  I was worried that since they injected near my tumor, that the tumor that was hiding elsewhere might drain to a different lymph node.  The sentinals (actually 2 were biopsied) were clear.

It does make sense and I am  having a sigh of relief!

Sending a cyber-hug to you.

Best,

Kerry