A newer procedure performed in order to determine whether breast cancer has spread to auxiliary (underarm) lymph nodes. A blue radioactive tracer and/or blue dye is injected into the area of the breast tumor. The lymphatic vessels carry the dye or radioactive material, to a ”sentinel_node”. This sentinel_node is thought to be the first lymph node receiving fluid from the tumor and the one most likely to contain cancer cells if the cancer has spread. Only if the sentinel node contains cancer cells are more lymph nodes removed.

See Also:

* Lymphedema

* My Life with Lymphedema and lymphoma

* Axillary node biopsy

* Sentinel node biopsy

* Small Needle biopsy

* Lymphoscintigraphy

* Arm or leg swelling after cancer

* Arm Lymphedema

* Leg Lymphedema

Cervical cancer, breast, ovarian cancer

Secondary Lymphedema in the cancer patient

Kidney and Renal Cancer

Hodgkins Disease or Hodgkins Lymphoma

Gynecological cancer

Leg Lymphedema Gynecological Cancer

Kaposi's Sarcoma

Skin Cancer

Colon Cancer

Prostate Cancer

Melanoma

Male Breast Cancer

Leg Swelling

Arm Swelling

Swelling

Breast Cancer

Cancer Glossary