Breast cancer can spread to the lymph nodes because that is where the fluid from the breast drains first. The first point of contact outside the breast is the lymph nodes and the first lymph node that receives breast fluid is called the sentinel node. To see if the cancer has spread, this node is tested. A sentinel lymph node biopsy, therefore, is a surgical procedure in which the surgeon removes only the lymph node(s) under the arm where the cancer would likely spread first. There is often more than one sentinel lymph node.
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