What should you know about sentinel node biopsy?

A tracer can show the route from the tumour area to the sentinel node. The surgeon removes the identified node during a planned procedure, and a laboratory examines it for cancer cells. The report may describe whether cells are absent, present, or require additional assessment.

This information helps the oncology team understand the cancer beyond the primary tumour. It may affect conversations about surgery, radiation, systemic treatment, or further testing, but it does not predict your individual outcome by itself. The result is considered with imaging and the tumour pathology.

Bring your medication and allergy information, and mention previous operations or lymphatic swelling. Follow fasting instructions if an anaesthetic is planned. Arrange a safe journey home when advised. At home, follow the dressing and activity guidance, and use only the pain medicines approved for you.

Keep a record of when the sample was taken and ask when the report will be discussed. If you need general context, see Biopsy.

Contact the clinic for increasing wound redness, warmth, swelling, discharge, or pain, especially with feverishness or feeling unwell. Seek emergency help for heavy bleeding, severe breathlessness, collapse, or swelling of the face or throat. Promptly report a new heavy or tight feeling in the nearby limb.

Ask which lymph node basin is involved, how the node will be found, and whether the procedure changes your planned operation. Ask what the pathology wording means and how it connects with immunohistochemistry, MRI, genomic tumour profiling, or chemotherapy.