With my bilateral, lymph nodes were only removed on the left side, where
the most advanced tumors were found.  I'm not sure why (keep forgetting
to ask my surgeon, who may not even remember anymore!).

At least one other doctor seemed vaguely surprised that no nodes were
removed on the right.  My best guess is that the surgeon felt that nodes
from the advanced side were sufficient for staging, and he was sure I
was going to have to have chemo already anyway because of my multiple
tumors, so why have lymphedema risk on both sides.  But I dunno.

Given my experience, it seems as if there'd be at least a chance you
wouldn't need axillary dissection on the other side, even if they found
a tumor in the other breast.

But, let's hope your pathology report gives you the news that there were
no malignancies in the other breast, so you don't have to worry about
more lymph nodes being removed (among other things!).

Ann T.
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Could you ask the surgeon ? I would assume that he would have taken the
nodes out if he suspected disease ( IE enlarged nodes).
It depends upon the pathology....if this is a new cancer unrelated to the
first cancer having the nodes out could effect treatment. If needed could
you have a sentinel node biopsy. Wishing you  the best results, Alex