What should you know about lumpectomy and sentinel node biopsy?

The findings help the team plan further care; they do not determine your diagnosis from a breast lump alone.

Before or during surgery, the team may mark the tumour so it can be found accurately. A tracer, dye, or both may guide the surgeon to the sentinel nodes, usually in the armpit. The breast tissue and nodes go to a laboratory for examination. The report may describe tumour type, size, margins, and whether cancer cells are present in the sampled nodes. Lumpectomy is also called breast-conserving surgery or wide local excision. It is used for selected breast conditions, including some cases of Breast Cancer and Paget Disease of the Breast.

Tell the team about medicines, allergies, pregnancy possibility, and any previous operation or anaesthetic problem. Arrange transport and help at home if advised. After surgery, bruising, swelling, altered sensation, and tiredness can occur. Follow the wound and activity instructions, wear the recommended support, and keep the follow-up appointment so the pathology results can be explained. Additional treatment may include Radiotherapy; your choice between Lumpectomy and Mastectomy depends on the tumour and your preferences.

Contact the surgical team promptly for fever, increasing redness or warmth, worsening pain, pus or bad-smelling drainage, bleeding that does not settle with firm pressure, sudden arm swelling, or a wound that opens. Seek urgent help for severe breathing difficulty, chest pain, fainting, or rapidly worsening swelling. Use the contact number supplied at discharge if you are unsure how quickly to act.

Ask which tissue will be removed, how the sentinel nodes will be located, when results are expected, and what a close or involved margin would mean. Clarify how much activity to avoid, whether you need arm exercises, and how future Radiotherapy or another operation would fit into the plan.