Well here I am again asking for help with my tests, to make sure I am prepared. <3 Tomorrow I have a CT scan, I am okay with that as I've had them before and been okay. A week after surgery I have a Bone scan - I am not looking forward to that as I have claustrophobia and I did have a panic attack last time.. But as I survived the first one, I should be okay with a valium before hand ;) Now the ones scheduled for the day of surgery?1 / Needle localisation to put in guide wires, what to expect?2/ Lymphocintogram - is this the sentinal node thing, radioactive blue dye?3/ Tracer - what is that?? Gone blank on that one.I thought I had it all sorted out but today I'm confused again. I don't want to read about it because Im the type of person that only needs the basics not TMI or I overthink it and get anxious haha

The waiting is definitely the absolute pits. Distract, distract, distract! K xox

Yes @Nefertari I had the all the procedures done in different places and was panicking because they tell you to be at the hospital early for admission for surgery. In the end I needn't have worried because they do take into account all of the procedures you have to have done first and if you are late that's fine. They know things can get held up. Absolutely agree waiting just sucks but it will come round soon enough. xox

Ha ha, thanks girls I think it's only the two tests after reading all the paperwork, there is so much!!!. 1/ Needle localisation to put the guide wires in as you said kmakm :) which I guess seems weird to me as they already put a marker / clip right into my tumour when I had the first three biopsy's, oh well just another puncture.2/ Lymphocintogram - otherwise known as Sentinel lymph node mapping, wish they all spoke the same language ;) yes the blue dye radioactive tracer injected, holy moly. Have been warned about the blue wee and blue nipple.Thanks for the answers and the hugs, I appreciate all your knowledge. I'm going to forget about it now till next week. What would I have done without this place? Anxiety levels down to normal now.@suburbangirl , lol at the waiting.........

Once again girls, thanks for all your answers, believe it or not it does help. If so many of you brave warriors have survived I will too. I will think of you all as I lay there next Friday and try to keep calm. Good to know that I can have a valium if needed for the anxiety. (already asked them, that).I am being transported for the procedures from the public hospital to the private hospital, then back to wait for the surgery at the public hospital That in itself causes me anxiety lol, but maybe it will help break up the waiting...... I find after these things have been done, I think to myself that wasn't as bad as I thought but the waiting and over thinking causes me so much anxiety, I wish it was today. ;) You ladies are amazing <3

I didn't have any blue dye just tracer. I was told I'd have blue dye. I was marked externally where the nodes were located following an ultrasound to locare the tracer.

Understanding the tests scheduled for Surgery Day ( 24th May)

Doin_it
Member
6 years ago
My wee was blue too & my nipple for 6 months
kmakm
Member
6 years ago
My wee was blue! As was my nipple for about three months.
suburbangirl
Member
6 years ago
Hi @Nefertari,
I agree with @kmakm
I am pretty sure I had these procedures done preoperatively on the day of my surgery in March this year. Even though I was nervous, in a funny way having these appts/procedures helped pass some time while waiting for surgery.
(Oh the waiting.....)
I did not feel any discomfort (except some anxiety!), everyone was very nice, explaining and chatting to you throughout, if you want that. They explained every step and were happy to repeat, or remind you of what to do, or what comes next.
My urine wasn't blue afterwards, but of course we may have slightly different procedures involving different techniques.
Sending you my very best wishes for your operation on the 24 May!
Suzanne xx
kmakm
Member
6 years ago
1) Local anaesthetic to place the guidewire to help the surgeon find your tumour. They use an ultrasound. I found it uncomfortable but not painful, apart from the local anaesthetic injection of course!

2) No idea!

3) Tracer? Not sure of that term. It could be referring to the Sentinel Node Biopsy (SNB) where blue dye is injected into your nipple to trace a path to the first lymph node your breast drains to. That's the one they remove to see if there's any cancer in it. Some people find this painful, others not so much. As with much about BC it's very individual.

Breast cancer is very anxiety making! You're definitely not alone there. Big hug, K xox

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Understanding the tests scheduled for Surgery Day ( 24th May)

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