This information describes what you can expect during your same-day lymphatic mapping and surgery at MSK’s Josie Robertson Surgery Center (JRSC). Read this before your surgery and refer to it on the day of your surgery so you know what to do and what to expect. Remember to also review the educational resources your nurse gave you.
The JRSC is a state-of-the-art ambulatory surgery center. Your care there will be based on your surgery and designed specifically for you. We’ll talk with you so you’ll know what to expect at every step.
Before your surgery, you’ll have your lymphatic mapping done in the Molecular Imaging and Therapy Service (MITS), which is sometimes called the Nuclear Medicine service.
After your lymphatic mapping, there will be a car service to take you and your caregiver to the JRSC for your surgery. For more information, read the section “The Day of Your Surgery.”
Before Your Surgery
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While you’re at the JRSC, you’ll have a tablet available for your use. You may need to do a few things before your surgery to use some of the tablet’s functions and other services available at the JRSC.
You’ll receive a series of surveys in your patient portal (MyMSK) or email account before and after your surgery. These surveys will ask about your health and your experience at the JRSC.
- To keep patients and staff safe and healthy during the COVID-19 pandemic, we’ve made updates to our visitor policy. Visit www.mskcc.org/visit for more information.
- Your caregiver can come to the JRSC with you and stay with you until you’re brought to the operating room. Your healthcare provider will call them with updates about your surgery.
The Day of Your Surgery
What to Bring
- Your prescription card, if you’d like to have your prescriptions filled at the JRSC.
Lymphatic Mapping Procedure
Where to Go for Your Lymphatic Mapping
Go to the Molecular Imaging and Therapy Service, located at 1250 First Ave., between East 67th and East 68th Streets. The guard at the front desk will direct you. Your lymphatic mapping will take about 1 to 2 hours.
Parking Information for Your Visitors
Your caregiver should park at JRSC, located at 1133 York Avenue, between East 61st and East 62nd Streets.
- If you’re coming from Northbound FDR Drive, you’ll need to go around the block to pull into the driveway on southbound York Ave, between East 62nd and East 61st Streets.
- If you’re coming from Southbound FDR Drive, take southbound York Avenue and pull into the driveway.
Parking is available at several garages near the JRSC. You will have to pay to park in these garages. For more information about parking, call 646-888-7100.
You can have 1 caregiver accompany you to the Molecular Imaging and Therapy Service.
After Your Procedure
After your procedure is finished, you’ll be escorted from the Molecular Imaging and Therapy Service to the hospital exit at 1275 York Avenue. There will be a car service waiting to take you and your caregiver to the JRSC for your surgery. There’s no charge for this car service.
Check-in at JRSC
- Once you enter the JRSC, a concierge will greet you and direct you to the check-in area on the 3rd floor.
- When you get to the 3rd floor, you will be given a badge to wear. This badge will allow your healthcare team to provide updates on your progress.
- If you have any dietary restrictions (such as kosher, gluten free, or vegetarian), tell us when you check in. We’ll make sure we give you the food and drink you need.
- We’ll ask you for the name and contact information of the person who will take you home when your surgery is finished.
What to Expect in the Pre-Surgical Center
- After you check in, a member of your healthcare team will bring you to the pre-surgical center on the 6th floor.
- You’ll meet with your healthcare team. They’ll review your medical history and answer any questions you have.
- Your nurse will bring you to the operating room when it’s time for your surgery.
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After Your Surgery
At the JRSC
A member of your healthcare team will take you to your private recovery room on 4th, 5th, or 6th floor. When you’re ready, we’ll call your caregiver and bring them to your room.
From your room you’ll be able to:
- Communicate with your healthcare team.
- Listen to Pandora.
- Skype with your friends and family.
- Watch or listen to music channels on the TV.
Your nurse will help you get ready to go home. When you’re awake, your nurse will:
- Encourage you to walk.
- Give you something to eat and drink.
- Review your discharge instructions with you.
- Answer any questions you have.
Depending on your type of surgery, you may stay at the JRSC 1 night. If your healthcare team feels you need to stay longer, you’ll be taken to Memorial Hospital, located at 1275 York Avenue, between East 67th and East 68th Streets.
When You’re at Home
The day after you go home, a member of your healthcare team will call you to see how you’re feeling and answer any questions you have.
Fill out Your Recovery Tracker
We want to know how you’re feeling when you go home. The Recovery Tracker is a group of questions we’ll send to your MyMSK account daily for 5 to 10 days after your surgery. It will only take 2 to 3 minutes to complete. Please answer the questions every day before midnight. Your answers to these questions will help us take the best care of you.
Your healthcare team will review your responses to make sure you’re recovering as expected. Based on your answers, we may reach out to you or ask you to call your surgeon’s office to give us more information. You can always contact your surgeon’s office if you have any questions.
MyMSK is our patient portal. If you don’t have a MyMSK account, visit my.mskcc.org or call 646-227-2593 to sign up. For more information, talk with someone in your surgeon’s office or watch the video How to Enroll in MyMSK: Memorial Sloan Kettering's Patient Portal.