My ALND was a bust..

Hi Katym, I think it really depends on the individual surgeon as to the degree of removal as I suspect others on here will all have a different story on their surgery and follow up treatment. With my first experience with breast cancer, I had 12 nodes removed  (followed up with a mastectomy and chemotherapy...but that was nearly 30 years ago). My second experience (last year) entailed radioactive dye injections around nipple, then waiting for the dye to move from that point to a sentinel node (only one as that showed the quickest and greatest dye uptake). This one was marked and during my second mastectomy (clear margin) only this one was removed and tested. The surgeon was in close communication with my oncologist who was part of the hospitals oncology team so decisions were made by a group discussion of this team. My surgeon and oncologist both said that removing more than the sentinel lymph node this time (this node could be a cluster or just one or two) left the patient at a greater risk of life changing damage (lymphoedema). They felt that the mastectomy, chemotherapy and follow-up oestrogen inhibitors was the way to go. Some people I know also had radiotherapy as part of their treatment. One thing I have learned is that you are your own best advocate...if you want to know why something did or did not happen, speak up and request clarification if you are unsure or confused. Feel free to continue to refer to this site for knowledge or confirmation of your thoughts. Wishing you  the very best!