Sentinel-Node Macrometastases: What You Need to Know
Sentinel-node macrometastases are an important topic for women with breast cancer. Understanding what they are and how they are treated can help you make informed decisions about your care.
What are Sentinel Nodes?
Sentinel nodes are the first lymph nodes that cancer cells from a tumor are likely to spread to. They are usually located in the armpit or near the breastbone. When a woman is diagnosed with breast cancer, her doctor will typically remove and test a few sentinel nodes to see if they contain cancer cells.
What are Macrometastases?
Macrometastases are cancer cells that are larger than 2 millimeters in size. If cancer cells are found in a sentinel node, they are considered to be macrometastases if they are larger than 2 millimeters.
What is the Significance of Sentinel-Node Macrometastases?
The presence of sentinel-node macrometastases means that the cancer has spread beyond the breast. This can affect the stage of the cancer and the treatment options that are available. Women with sentinel-node macrometastases are more likely to have additional lymph nodes that are affected by cancer, and they are also more likely to develop distant metastases.
How are Sentinel-Node Macrometastases Treated?
The treatment for sentinel-node macrometastases typically involves surgery to remove the affected lymph nodes. This surgery is called an axillary lymph node dissection (ALND). ALND can be a major surgery, and it can lead to complications such as lymphedema (swelling of the arm).
What are the Alternatives to ALND?
In some cases, women with sentinel-node macrometastases may be able to avoid ALND. This is possible if the cancer cells are only found in one or two sentinel nodes and if the nodes are small. In these cases, women may be able to undergo a less invasive procedure called sentinel-node biopsy alone (SNB). SNB involves removing only the sentinel nodes, and it does not require the removal of the entire lymph node group.
What is the Prognosis for Women with Sentinel-Node Macrometastases?
The prognosis for women with sentinel-node macrometastases depends on a number of factors, including the size of the metastases, the number of lymph nodes that are affected, and the stage of the cancer. Women with small metastases and only a few affected lymph nodes have a better prognosis than women with larger metastases and more affected lymph nodes.
Conclusion
Sentinel-node macrometastases are an important topic for women with breast cancer. Understanding what they are and how they are treated can help you make informed decisions about your care. If you have been diagnosed with sentinel-node macrometastases, talk to your doctor about the best treatment options for you.
also read:Advancements in Breast Cancer Detection: ANGLE’s Parsortix System Leads the Way