Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy

Biopsy, Sentinel Lymph Node

How To Prepare

Tell your doctor if you:

• Are or might be pregnant.
• Are taking any medicines.
• Are allergic to any medicines, including any anesthetics or dyes.
• Have had bleeding problems or take blood-thinners, such as aspirin or warfarin (Coumadin).
• Have had a biopsy in the past.
• Have had radiation treatment to the biopsy site.

Follow your doctor's instructions carefully. If you are given a medicine (sedative) to make you relax or sleep before the biopsy, do not eat or drink for 8 hours before the biopsy. Arrange for someone to drive you home after the biopsy.

Talk to your doctor about concerns you have regarding the need for the test, its risks, how it will be done, or what the results may mean. To help you understand the importance of this test, fill out the medical test information form(What is a PDF document?).

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Author:	Bets Davis, MFA	Last Updated: March 31, 2008
Medical Review:	Anne C. Poinier, MD - Internal Medicine Brent Shoji, MD - General Surgery
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