Sentinel lymphatic biopsy in breast cancer patients does not usually cause edema when the cancer has not spread. If the cancer has spread to the sentinel lymph nodes, it may cause symptoms of edema.
If the cancer cells in the patient’s body have not yet metastasized to the sentinel lymph nodes, symptoms of limb edema do not occur when a sentinel lymphatic biopsy for breast cancer is performed. Because the sentinel lymph nodes are fewer in number and will not affect the lymphatic circulation of the patient’s upper limbs, the biopsy will not cause limb edema.
If the cancer cells have invaded the sentinel lymph nodes, lymph node dissection surgery is required as prescribed by the doctor after the sentinel lymphatic biopsy. In this case, some patients will have symptoms of upper limb edema. Patients are advised to take good care of wound hygiene after breast cancer sentinel lymphatic biopsy, and to disinfect the wound regularly to prevent infection. It is also important to go to the hospital regularly for review after the biopsy.
Once diagnosed with breast cancer, patients should go to the hospital for treatment as soon as possible, the earlier the treatment, the higher the chance of cure, do not delay the disease.