Axillary Node Dissection/ Clearance

Axillary Node Dissection/ Clearance

General Surgery
Name of procedure: Axillary Node Dissection/Clearance

It has been recommended that you have a clearance of the axillary (armpit) lymph nodes
as part of the surgical treatment for your breast cancer.
The operation involves making an incision (cut) in the skin of your armpit to remove most
of the lymph nodes under your arm. Detailed laboratory analysis of the nodes will help
us to advise you on the next stage of your treatment.
This leaflet explains some of the benefits and risks of the operation. We want you to
have an informed choice so you can make the right decision. We recommend that you
read this leaflet carefully. You and your doctor will also need to record that you agree to
have the procedure by signing a consent form, which your health professional will give
you. Please ask your surgical team about anything you do not fully understand or want
to be explained in more detail.

Benefits of the procedure

The aim of your surgery is to remove the axillary lymph nodes. If you have been told
that you have cancer, surgery to remove involved lymph nodes gives the best chance
of a cure, although treatment may need to be combined with further surgery and/or other
therapies such as chemotherapy, radiotherapy, antibody or endocrine (tablet) therapy.

Serious or frequent risks

Everything we do in life has risks. There are some risks associated with this type of
surgery.

The general risks of surgery include problems with:
o the wound (for example, infection); and
o blood clots (for example, in the legs or occasionally in the lung).
o Those specifically related to axillary surgery may include problems with:

1. Numbness or discomfort in the armpit and upper arm. The numbness will
   usually lessen slowly after treatment but might not resolve completely.
2. Shoulder stiffness and /or soreness. An exercise sheet is included in your
   Information pack. Please commence these exercises 2 days after your
   operation to help resolve any stiffness. Occasionally extra physiotherapy is
   required.
3. Lymphoedema of the arm. This is a swelling in the tissue below the skin
   caused by lymph fluid that cannot drain away and may affect approximately
   20% of women who have had axillary surgery. It can occur when the lymph
   nodes are removed (by surgery) or blocked (e.g. by radiotherapy) secondary to
   scar tissue formation. The hand and/or arm can swell at any time after surgery
   to the armpit. There are certain precautions you are advised to take to help
   prevent lymphoedema, a leaflet on Reducing your risk of Lymphoedema is in
   your Information Pack.
4. Seroma. This is a collection of fluid under the wound that may develop post-operatively. Approximately 80% of people having an axillary lymph node
   clearance will develop a seroma which may need to be drained using a needle
   and a syringe. This is a very simple procedure that can be done by a member
   of the breast team in the Outpatients Department.
5. Haematoma. Occasionally after an operation a haematoma (collection of
   blood) may develop. This may require an operation to remove it and stop any
   bleeding vessels.
6. Minor skin burn. Due to heat conduction used to stop bleeding during surgery.
   

Most people will not experience any serious complications from their surgery. The
risks increase for elderly people, those who are overweight and people who
already have heart, lung or other medical conditions such as diabetes or kidney
failure. As with all surgery, there is a 1:250,000 risk that you may die.

You will be cared for by a skilled team of doctors, nurses and other healthcare
workers who are involved in this type of surgery every day. If problems arise, we
will be able to assess them and deal with them appropriately.

Other procedures that are available
Other forms of treatment can be used in the treatment of your cancer, such as
radiotherapy (using high dose x rays to kill cancer cells), chemotherapy (using drugs to
kill cancer cells), antibody therapy (to stimulate your immune system to attack cells) and
endocrine therapy (using tablets to stop the cells from growing). However, the present
recommendation by the breast team health professionals is that in your case, surgery is
the best form of treatment at this stage.

Your pre-operative assessment
Before you are admitted for your operation, you may be required to attend for a preoperative assessment, to ensure that you are fit for surgery. It is important that you
attend for this appointment to avoid delaying your surgery.

Not all patients require a detailed pre-operative assessment and a health questionnaire
is used to determine which patients require a full assessment. The health questionnaire
may be on paper or on a tablet/computer. The information required includes all medical
conditions, regular medications, allergies to medications and your previous anaesthetic
history. The information you give will be reviewed by the pre-operative assessment
team. If you require further assessment you will be given an appointment to attend the
pre-operative assessment clinic.

At the clinic, the nursing staff will confirm the medical information you have previously
given. Further tests may be required, such as a blood test, X-ray, heart or lung test. If a
more detailed assessment or discussion is required you may see an anaesthetist prior
to your admission for surgery. This may require an additional appointment.

If you are taking prescribed medicines please bring a copy of your repeat prescription
to your appointment and a copy of the operation consent form (if you were provided with
a copy at your out-patient appointment).

Following your assessment, the staff will provide you with written information regarding
preparation for your surgery and a point of contact. It is important that you follow the
fasting instructions given on your admission letter.

Being admitted to the ward
You will be admitted on the day of your surgery. You will be welcomed on to the ward
and your details checked. We will fasten an armband containing your hospital
information to your wrist.
You will usually be asked to continue with your normal medication during your stay in
hospital so please bring it with you.

Your anaesthetic
Your surgery will usually be carried out under a general anaesthetic. This means that
you will be asleep during your operation and you will feel nothing.

Before you come into hospital
There are some things you can do to prepare yourself for your operation and reduce the
chance of difficulties with the anaesthetic.

• If you smoke, consider giving up for several weeks before the operation. Smoking reduces the amount of oxygen in your blood and increases the risks of breathing problems during and after an operation. Using a vaporiser instead of smoking may help the lung and breathing issues but does not significantly reduce the risk of post-operative wound problems.
• If you are overweight, many of the risks of anaesthesia are increased. Reducing your weight will help.
• If you have loose or broken teeth or crowns that are not secure, you may want to visit your dentist for treatment. The anaesthetist will usually want to put an airway in your mouth to help you breathe. If your teeth are not secure, they may be damaged.
• If you become unwell or develop a cough or cold the week before your surgery please contact the pre-operative assessment team on the number provided. Depending on your illness and how urgent your surgery is, we may need to delay your operation as it may be better for you to recover from this illness before your surgery.

Your pre-surgery visit by the anaesthetist

After you come into hospital, the anaesthetist will come to see you and ask you questions about:

• your general health and fitness;
• any serious illnesses you have had;
• any problems with previous anaesthetics;
• medicines you are taking;
• allergies you have;
• chest pain;
• shortness of breath;
• heartburn;
• problems with moving your neck or opening your mouth; and
• any loose teeth, caps, crowns or bridges.

Your anaesthetist will discuss with you the different methods of anaesthesia the can use. After talking about the benefits, risks and your preferences, you can then decide together what is best for you.

On the day of your operation
Nothing to eat and drink (nil by mouth)
It is important that you follow the instructions we give you about eating and drinking. We
will ask you not to eat or drink anything for six hours before your operation. This is
because any food or liquid in your stomach could come up into the back of your throat
and go into your lungs while you are being anaesthetised. You may take a few sips of
plain water up to two hours before your operation so you can take any medication
tablets. Please refrain from chewing gum.

Your normal medicines
Continue to take your normal medicines up to and including the day of your surgery. If
we do not want you to take your normal medication, your surgeon or anaesthetist will
explain what you should do. It is important to let us know if you are taking anticoagulant
(blood thinning) drugs.

Your anaesthetic
When it is time for your operation, a member of staff will take you from the ward to the
operating theatre. They will take you into the anaesthetic room and the anaesthetist will
get you ready for your anaesthetic.

To monitor you during your operation, your anaesthetist will attach you to a machine to
watch your heart, your blood pressure and the oxygen level in your blood.

General anaesthetic
General anaesthesia usually starts with an injection of medicine into a vein. A thin plastic
tube (cannula) will be placed in a vein in your arm or hand and the medicines will be
injected through the tube. Sometimes you will be asked to breathe a mixture of gases
and oxygen through a mask to give the same effect.

Pain relief after surgery
Pain relief is important to aid your recovery from surgery. This may be in the form of
tablets, suppositories or injections. Once you are comfortable and have recovered safely
from your anaesthetic, we will take you back to the ward. The ward staff will continue to
monitor you and assess your pain relief. It is important that you report any pain you have
as soon as you experience it.

What are the risks?
The risk to you as an individual will depend on whether you have any other illness,
personal factors, such as smoking or being overweight and surgery that is complicated
or prolonged.

General anaesthesia is safer than it has ever been. If you are normally fit and well, your
risk of dying from any cause while under anaesthetic is less than one in 250,000. The
side effects of having a general anaesthetic include drowsiness, nausea (feeling sick),
muscle pain, sore throat and headache. There is also a small risk of dental damage
Your anaesthetist will discuss the risks with you and will be happy to answer any
questions you may have.

After your surgery

• You will be taken to the recovery room to the general or day care ward. You will need to rest until the effects of the anaesthetic have worn off. You will have a drip in your arm to keep you well-hydrated.
• You will be encouraged to get out of bed and move around as soon as possible, as this helps prevent chest infections and blood clots.
• Your surgical team will assess your progress and answer any questions you have about the operation.

Leaving hospital

Length of stay
How long you will be in hospital varies from patient to patient and depends on how
quickly you recover from the operation and the anaesthetic. Most patients having this
type of breast surgery will be able to go home the same day or the following morning.

Medication when you leave hospital
Before you leave hospital, the pharmacy will give you any extra medication that you
need to take when you are at home.

Recovery
How long it takes for you to fully recover from your surgery varies from person to person.
It may take up to 4 to 6 weeks. You should consider who is going to look after you during
the early part of this time. You may have family or close friends nearby who are able to
support you or care for you in your home during the early part of your recovery period
or you may consider going to stay with relatives.

Stitches
Your wound will be closed with dissolvable stitches, surgical glue and/or steristrips
(paper stitches). Please keep your wound dry for the first 48 hours.

Drain
You may have a surgical drain to help remove excess fluid from the wound. You will be
shown how to manage the drain or, if required, a district nurse will be arranged by the
ward to contact you once you are home. You will be given instructions as to when and
where the drain is to be removed.

Personal hygiene
After 48 hours you may bathe and shower as normal, but try not to soak the dressing.

Exercise
Please read the exercise sheet in your Information Folder. These exercises can be
started on the second day following your operation and will help to keep your shoulders
supple. Try to go for a daily walk.

Sex
You can continue sexual activity as soon as you feel comfortable.

Driving
You should not drive until you feel confident that you could perform an emergency stop
without discomfort. It is your responsibility to check with your insurance company
regarding your insurance cover after an operation. You do not need to notify the DVLA
of surgical recovery unless it is likely to affect driving and persist for more than 3 months.

Work

How long you will need to be away from work varies depending on:

• how quickly you recover
• how your wounds heal
• whether you need further surgery or other treatments
• whether or not your work is physical

You can usually begin gentle work within a week or two, but you might need to wait a
little longer before resuming more vigorous activity. If you need a medical sick (FIT) note
for work for the first two weeks after your surgery, please ask the nurses on the ward
prior to being discharged.

Emotional support
It is not uncommon to feel a bit ‘down’ after any operation so do ask your doctor or breast
care nurse if you feel you need more psychological support. Some find treatment for
cancer a frightening experience so please tell your nurse or doctor about any concerns
that you have.

Outpatient appointment
Before you are discharged we will either give you a follow-up appointment to come to
the outpatient department or we will send it to you in the post.

Contact details
If you have any specific concerns that you feel have not been answered and need
explaining, please contact the following.

Worcestershire Breast Unit
Telephone – 01905 760261
Email – [email protected]

If your symptoms or condition worsens, or if you are concerned about anything,
please call your GP, 111, or 999.

Patient Experience
We know that being admitted to hospital can be a difficult and unsettling time for you
and your loved ones. If you have any questions or concerns, please do speak with a
member of staff on the ward or in the relevant department who will do their best to
answer your questions and reassure you.

Feedback
Feedback is really important and useful to us – it can tell us where we are working well
and where improvements can be made. There are lots of ways you can share your
experience with us including completing our Friends and Family Test – cards are
available and can be posted on all wards, departments and clinics at our hospitals. We
value your comments and feedback and thank you for taking the time to share this with
us.

Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS)
If you have any concerns or questions about your care, we advise you to talk with the
nurse in charge or the department manager in the first instance as they are best placed
to answer any questions or resolve concerns quickly. If the relevant member of staff is
unable to help resolve your concern, you can contact the PALS Team. We offer informal
help, advice or support about any aspect of hospital services & experiences.

Our PALS team will liaise with the various departments in our hospitals on your behalf,
if you feel unable to do so, to resolve your problems and where appropriate refer to
outside help.

If you are still unhappy you can contact the Complaints Department, who can investigate
your concerns. You can make a complaint orally, electronically or in writing and we can
advise and guide you through the complaints procedure.

How to contact PALS:
Telephone Patient Services: 0300 123 1732 or via email at: [email protected]

Opening times:
The PALS telephone lines are open Monday to Friday from 8.30am to 4.00pm. Please
be aware that you may need to leave a voicemail message, but we aim to return your
call within one working day.

If you are unable to understand this leaflet, please communicate with a member of staff.

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