Another Question

Here's some info… the image of the machine is very similar to the one the used for me at Moffitt, more open than an MRI but still a little tight. I would ask your doctor if he could prescribe a light sedative for you.

http://www.bidmc.org/Centers-and-Departments/Departments/Radiology/Exams/Locations/Exams.aspx

Here's some info… the image of the machine is very similar to the one the used for me at Moffitt, more open than an MRI but still a little tight. I would ask your doctor if he could prescribe a light sedative for you.

http://www.bidmc.org/Centers-and-Departments/Departments/Radiology/Exams/Locations/Exams.aspx

Here's some info… the image of the machine is very similar to the one the used for me at Moffitt, more open than an MRI but still a little tight. I would ask your doctor if he could prescribe a light sedative for you.

http://www.bidmc.org/Centers-and-Departments/Departments/Radiology/Exams/Locations/Exams.aspx

The first thing you do that day is get injected a few times around your primary site, where you had the biopsy, with a radioactive solution. You hang out for a while while it spreads through the lymphatic system to the nearest sentinel nodes. Then, they have to find the nodes that light up, so they use an imaging machine. For myself, I did not actually go all the way in the machine, but that's because my primary was on my leg and so it drained to my groin, which means I only had to go waist deep in the machine and my head stayed free, which was nice. I believe you said yours was on your leg as well, so will probably be similar for you. Then, you can see on a screen where these nodes are.. I called them radioactive beans.. that's kind of what they looked like. I had a few light up, then the doctor marked me with a sharpie with "X" in a few different areas around my groin to give the surgeon an idea of where to go. Then, while in surgery, the surgeon has his own tool to use to find the nodes while he's inside.

That was my experience, and I can't imagine it will be much different for you. Hope that helps explain a little more.

All the best,

The first thing you do that day is get injected a few times around your primary site, where you had the biopsy, with a radioactive solution. You hang out for a while while it spreads through the lymphatic system to the nearest sentinel nodes. Then, they have to find the nodes that light up, so they use an imaging machine. For myself, I did not actually go all the way in the machine, but that's because my primary was on my leg and so it drained to my groin, which means I only had to go waist deep in the machine and my head stayed free, which was nice. I believe you said yours was on your leg as well, so will probably be similar for you. Then, you can see on a screen where these nodes are.. I called them radioactive beans.. that's kind of what they looked like. I had a few light up, then the doctor marked me with a sharpie with "X" in a few different areas around my groin to give the surgeon an idea of where to go. Then, while in surgery, the surgeon has his own tool to use to find the nodes while he's inside.

That was my experience, and I can't imagine it will be much different for you. Hope that helps explain a little more.

All the best,

The first thing you do that day is get injected a few times around your primary site, where you had the biopsy, with a radioactive solution. You hang out for a while while it spreads through the lymphatic system to the nearest sentinel nodes. Then, they have to find the nodes that light up, so they use an imaging machine. For myself, I did not actually go all the way in the machine, but that's because my primary was on my leg and so it drained to my groin, which means I only had to go waist deep in the machine and my head stayed free, which was nice. I believe you said yours was on your leg as well, so will probably be similar for you. Then, you can see on a screen where these nodes are.. I called them radioactive beans.. that's kind of what they looked like. I had a few light up, then the doctor marked me with a sharpie with "X" in a few different areas around my groin to give the surgeon an idea of where to go. Then, while in surgery, the surgeon has his own tool to use to find the nodes while he's inside.

That was my experience, and I can't imagine it will be much different for you. Hope that helps explain a little more.

All the best,

Actually it takes time for the image to be produced and you will need to stay in the machine for a good bit of time while that happens.  Basically there is a screen in the machine that will record the radioactivity over time.  The hot nodes give off more particles and that part of the screen will get more "hits" and this creates the image on the screen.  They will use a syringe with radioactive material and will outline your body so there is record of that to help guide the location of your SNB.  They don't squirt it out or anything, just use it like a wand to create the image.

My SNB was my right axilla.  I was in that machine for about an hour.  I basically slept.  They can give you something to relax so you can stay very still.

You in Hawaii?  I live in Hilo.

KK

Actually it takes time for the image to be produced and you will need to stay in the machine for a good bit of time while that happens.  Basically there is a screen in the machine that will record the radioactivity over time.  The hot nodes give off more particles and that part of the screen will get more "hits" and this creates the image on the screen.  They will use a syringe with radioactive material and will outline your body so there is record of that to help guide the location of your SNB.  They don't squirt it out or anything, just use it like a wand to create the image.

My SNB was my right axilla.  I was in that machine for about an hour.  I basically slept.  They can give you something to relax so you can stay very still.

You in Hawaii?  I live in Hilo.

KK

Actually it takes time for the image to be produced and you will need to stay in the machine for a good bit of time while that happens.  Basically there is a screen in the machine that will record the radioactivity over time.  The hot nodes give off more particles and that part of the screen will get more "hits" and this creates the image on the screen.  They will use a syringe with radioactive material and will outline your body so there is record of that to help guide the location of your SNB.  They don't squirt it out or anything, just use it like a wand to create the image.

My SNB was my right axilla.  I was in that machine for about an hour.  I basically slept.  They can give you something to relax so you can stay very still.

You in Hawaii?  I live in Hilo.

KK