Topic: How many nodes taken??

I heard we only had 1-4 sentinels on each side? wow. I had one sentinel node identified, and she took 2 others that were close by to be sure. (I guess a good idea?) Final pathology, all neg. Thank you God.

I had 5 nodes taken.  2 were positive.  3 of the 5 were sentinel nodes with 2 additional nodes.  I had requested prior to surgery to not have a full axiliiary dissection if the sentinel node came back positive as I use my right arm in my profession and any complications associated with the lymphadenectomy could potentially hinder my ability to earn my livelihood.  My surgeon was amenable to my decision.  Subsequently, I did have 3 fields of radiation which included radiating the supraclavicular nodes.  I had 4 rounds of A/C and 10 weekly of taxol (before my liver said "no more!) which I hope destroyed any other rogue cells.  On this website, the sentinel node biopsy is defined as the removal of 1 node or a small cluster of 2 or 3 nodes.

Hi there,

My surgeon removed 19 nodes. Thanks to neoadjuvant chemotherapy, all were sterile. I'm very, very lucky.

Annie

8 nodes removed in total.  I too felt the node dissection way more painful than the lumpectomy (incision is at the bottom of my under arm area).  Don't know why all the pain was so concentrated there, but 7 years later, I can still remember it.

I had 6 nodes taken.   After the surgery, I asked my BS how many she took and she said 2 -- final pathology showed 6.   One node had possibility of isolated tumor cells, but since 6 were taken in the Sentinel Node Biospy, I did not have to go back for more.  

M.

I had 3 "suspicious" lymph nodes removed...thank God all negative ( reactive to nature )

make certain you do your stretches everyday...I experienced scar tissue built up 7 months later. 

Much LUV

I had 3 removed using the SNB (dye & nuclear method) during bilat. surgery.  All 3 clear.

Springtime - Just an FYI - my surgeon told me that there are on avg 70 nodes in the upper chest area.  (Some can be sneaky and be behind the sternum.) And thousands more in the entire body.

My surgery was just this past Wednesday.  I had 3 sentinel nodes removed and immediately tested.  Since 1 was positive, he removed 17 more.  Next day the surgeon called me to say that all 17 were negative, so I'm 1 of 20.   I was having such difficulty describing the sensation in my armpit until I ready Keryl's post.  She's exactly right!  It's like having a catus in my armpit.