What does the procedure axillary lymph node dissection entail?
The removal of lymph nodes [2] using the ALND procedure usually takes about an hour. However, your doctor might have you stay at the hospital for most of the day, depending on your response to the surgery.
Before the surgery is done, your nurse will have you fill out some paperwork and check your vitals to ensure you are stable enough for the surgery. Then you will be given general anesthesia.
To commence the surgery, your surgeon will cut a 2 to 3-inch incision in your underarm, this will be done along the crease to help minimize scarring. Then, he proceeds to remove the cancerous lymph nodes and stitches your incision back together.
After the procedure your doctor might conduct a lumpectomy [3] or a mastectomy [4] if you have invasive breast cancer.
At the end of it all, you’ll be sent to the recovery room where you’ll naturally wake up from the anesthesia [5]. A nurse will confirm your full recovery from the anesthesia and check your overall condition to determine if you are ready to be discharged from the hospital.
The removed lymph nodes are not thrown away, instead they are sent to a pathologist for further examination. Your doctor might not receive the final report until several days later.