Sentinel Node Biopsy for Breast Cancer: What to Expect at Home

Your Recovery

After a sentinel node biopsy, many people have no side effects. Some people have pain or bruising at the incision and feel tired. Your breast and underarm area may be slightly swollen. This may last a few days. You should feel close to normal in a few days. The incision the doctor made usually heals in about 2 weeks. The scar usually fades with time.

Some people have a buildup of fluid in the area where the lymph nodes were removed. This is known as seroma. This goes away on its own, or your doctor can drain it.

When you had this biopsy, your doctor injected blue dye or a radioactive tracer or both into your breast. Your skin may be blue from the dye for several days after the biopsy. The dye may also turn your urine green for 1 to 2 days. The radioactive tracer leaves your body quickly through your urine. The amount of radiation used is very small and won't harm you.

A sentinel node biopsy may be done at the same time as other breast surgeries. If this is the case, how you recover will be different.

This care sheet gives you a general idea about how long it will take for you to recover. But each person recovers at a different pace. Follow the steps below to get better as quickly as possible.

How can you care for yourself at home?

Activity

• Rest when you feel tired. Getting enough sleep will help you recover.
• Be as active as you can. It can help prevent problems and help you recover. Walking is a good option for many.
• You may drive when you are no longer taking pain medicine and you feel up to it.
• Most people return to work and their normal routines in a few days to a week.
• You may shower 24 to 48 hours after surgery, if your doctor okays it. Pat the incision dry. Do not take a bath for the first 2 weeks, or until your doctor tells you it is okay.
• Avoid activity or exercise that may put stress on the area. This includes lifting heavy things, washing windows, vacuuming, or gardening with the affected arm.

Diet

• You can eat your normal diet.
• You may notice that your bowels are not regular right after your surgery. This is common. Try to avoid constipation and straining with bowel movements. Your doctor may suggest fiber, a stool softener, or a mild laxative.

Medicines

• Your doctor will tell you if and when you can restart your medicines. The doctor will also give you instructions about taking any new medicines.
• If you stopped taking aspirin or some other blood thinner, your doctor will tell you when to start taking it again.
• Be safe with medicines. Read and follow all instructions on the label.
  • If you are not taking a prescription pain medicine, ask your doctor if you can take an over-the-counter medicine.
  • If the doctor gave you a prescription medicine for pain, take it as prescribed.
  • Store your prescription pain medicines where no one else can get to them. When you are done using them, dispose of them quickly and safely. Your local pharmacy or hospital may have a drop-off site.
• If your doctor prescribed antibiotics, take them as directed. Do not stop taking them just because you feel better. You need to take the full course of antibiotics.
• If you think your pain medicine is making you sick to your stomach:
  • Take your medicine after meals (unless your doctor has told you not to).
  • Ask your doctor for a different pain medicine.

Incision care

• If you have strips of tape on the cut (incision), leave the tape on until it falls off.
• Gently wash the area daily with warm water, and pat it dry. Don't use hydrogen peroxide or alcohol. They can slow healing.
• You may cover the area with a gauze bandage if it oozes fluid or rubs against clothing. Change the bandage every day.

Other instructions

• Fluid may collect near the biopsy site. And fluid may leak from the biopsy site. Use an ice pack or take an over-the-counter pain medicine to relieve swelling and mild pain.

Follow-up care is a key part of your treatment and safety. Be sure to make and go to all appointments, and call your doctor if you are having problems. It's also a good idea to know your test results and keep a list of the medicines you take.

When should you call for help?

Call 911 anytime you think you may need emergency care. For example, call if:

• You passed out (lost consciousness).
• You have chest pain, are short of breath, or cough up blood.

Contact your doctor now or seek immediate medical care if:

• You have pain that does not get better after you take pain medicine.
• You have nausea or vomiting and cannot keep down fluids.
• You have signs of a blood clot in your leg (called a deep vein thrombosis), such as:
  • Pain in your calf, back of the knee, thigh, or groin.
  • Swelling in the leg or groin.
  • A color change on the leg or groin. The skin may be reddish or purplish.
• You have new or worse swelling or pain in your arm.
• You have signs of infection, such as:
  • Increased pain, swelling, warmth, or redness.
  • Red streaks leading from the incision.
  • Pus draining from the incision.
  • A fever.
• You have loose stitches, or your incision comes open.
• Bright red blood has soaked through the bandage over your incision.
• You cannot pass stools or gas.

Watch closely for changes in your health, and be sure to contact your doctor if you have any problems.