Sentinel lymph node dissection in breast cancer and the role of the nurse

Sentinel lymph node dissection potentially offers a less invasive means to identify metastatic disease in the lymph nodes of women with early breast cancer. Most women will have this procedure on an outpatient basis, often as part of a clinical trial. Registered nurses who specialize in the surgical aspects of breast cancer are critical to the education and support of women and their families considering and undergoing sentinel lymph node dissection. Nurses need to know the technical aspects of the procedure and collaborate with their surgeon colleagues to ensure that women undergoing the procedure understand the state of the science, make informed choices, and have a smooth recovery. The purpose of this article is to review nursing care of breast cancer patients undergoing sentinel lymph node dissection.