Melanoma Part 3

I have surgery this Thursday, and we have no clue how it's going to go.  They can't tell me what to expect afterwards or during.  They know nothing until they actually get into surgery.  UGH!

A sentinel lymph node biopsy is going to be done at the same time which should be fun.  Below is what a sentinel biopsy could possibly look like with no issues.  And yes, I'm going in early for a nuclear medicine/radioactive injection prior to surgery at noon so that they can complete this.

Here's to hoping that it comes back negative meaning the cancer has most likely not spread to any other parts of my body, including the lymph nodes!!

Sentinel lymph node biopsy in a patient with melanoma. A radioactive substance and/or blue dye is injected near the tumor (first panel). The injected material is located visually and/or with a device that detects radioactivity (middle panel). The sentinel node(s) (the first lymph node(s) to take up the material) is (are) removed and checked for cancer cells (last panel). Sentinel lymph node biopsy can be done before or after the tumor is removed.