Lymph nodes are tiny nodules situated throughout the body that
drain lymph fluid and trap and eliminate bacteria, viruses and
cancers cells. For women with breast cancer, the presence or
absence of cancer cells in nearby lymph nodes (usually in the
armpit) plays an important role in determining the stage of the
breast cancer and the necessity for additional treatment. The
sentinel node is the first lymph node to receive lymphatic
drainage from the breast. Surgeons have discovered that the
status of the sentinel lymph node reflects the likely presence
or absence of tumor cells in the rest of the axilla. Typically,
if the sentinel node is "cancer-free," this indicates that other
nodes will be as well. For eligible women, the sentinel node
biopsy procedure offers a less invasive option than the standard
axillary lymph node dissection which typically involves removing
ten or more lymph nodes. By minimizing the number of lymph nodes
removed, women will usually experience fewer possible side
effects. Today the majo