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Before the operation
If you are having a sentinel node biopsy, you will normally
be taken down for tests and to the MRI imaging room several
hours before the operation. You will have a local anaesthetic
and dye will be injected into the area of the tumour, guided
by ultrasound. You will wait for a short while to allow the
dye to "take".
You will then be submitted to a scan (MRI) which will confirm:
- Whether the dye has reached the "sentinel node"
- Where the sentinel node is located
Shortly before the operation you will be wheeled to theatre.
There you will have an injection to relax you and a general
anaesthetic. The anaesthetist will normally come to see you
before this. The anaesthetic will make sure you stay asleep
during the operation and do not feel any pain.
Surgery
For breast conserving treatment,
the cancer and a small amount of breast tissue around it will
be taken out. Usually some lymph nodes will be taken out.
This will help establish whether the cancer has spread to
other parts of your body.
If you have a sentinel node biopsy,
you may only have the sentinel node taken out.
In some cases, you surgeon may not suggest removing any lymph
nodes.
In a mastectomy, the whole
breast is removed. The chest muscles are not removed. Some
lymph nodes will be removed.
After the operation
You will normally wake up in the recovery room outside the
theatre and be taken back to your bed. You will feel groggy
for a while as a result of the anaesthetic and also any painkillers
such as morphine.
You will have a dressing over your wound(s). You may have
a drain to help empty fluid from your wound. This consists
of one or two tubes coming out of your wound which are attached
to a small container or bag. The drain will be kept in for
between 3 and 5 days. It is checked twice daily after your
operation to see how much fluid has accumulated. It will be
taken out when there is only a small amount of fluid being
accumulated in the bag.
You will either:
- be kept in hospital until the drain comes out; or
- have it removed later by your surgeon or the nurse
You will normally be given pethidine or morphine and possible
an injection for anti-nausea. Initially you may have a tube
with saline solution and one of these painkillers. With this
you can press a button whenever you want more. Later you will
may be told you can have a painkiller injection as you need
it.
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