I am nearing the end of my chemo and approaching surgery. I have cancer in one lymph node and need to decide on TAD (targeted axillary dissection, or partial lymph node removal) or complete lymph node removal. Has anyone gone through this recently
I am sorry to hear that you need to have breast cancer treatment.
I must admit not to know much about targeted axillary dissection (TAD) this is because it seems to be a relatively new procedure. I cannot see much information about it from the UK. However, the U.S charity called Breast Cancer.org has information about a small study looking into it, you can see this information here
TAD works by tagging the cancerous lymph node/s before chemotherapy so that it/they can be identified and removed after neo-adjuvant treatment has been given.
I think it is fair to say that the more extensive the surgery (on the lymph nodes) the bigger the risk of side effects happening. The side effects associated with the removal of lymph nodes are lymphoedema (swelling in the arm) , paraesthesia (a burning or prickling sensation) , sensory loss in the arm and impairment in shoulder function. Patients undergoing SLNB have less of a risk of these symptoms happening and a better quality of life. So, it could be the case that the TAD is more targeted and potentially will have less risk of side effects and be as accurate or perhaps even more accurate than a SLNB. But I don't know if TAD is being used by itself yet or if it is still used alongside SLNB for now.
Do speak with your specialist team about this. If they are offering a choice of procedures then they should be able to tell you the benefits and risks of each so you can make an informed decision.
I hope this has helped. Please get back to us if you need any more information or support. You may find it helpful to talk things through with one of the nurses on our helpline. The number to call is Freephone 0808 800 4040 and the lines are open from 9am till 5pm Monday to Friday.
