The tumor staging defines the size of the original tumor.Knowing the stage can help a doctor determine a person’s outlook and treatment plan.ĭoctors use the tumor, nodes, and metastasis (TNM) system to work out the stage of breast cancer: StagingĬancer stages indicate the extent and spread of the disease. Once the doctor removes the nodes, a pathologist can determine whether cancer has spread beyond the sentinel lymph nodes. The number of lymph nodes removed can vary but generally ranges from 5–30. The doctor removes an area of fat that contains many or all of the lymph nodes. The purpose of this is to check for cancer spread and to lower the chance of cancer redeveloping in the lymph nodes. Axillary dissectionĪxillary dissection is a procedure that involves removing additional lymph nodes from under the armpit. If the pathologist finds cancer in the sentinel nodes, a person may need to have more lymph nodes removed. This method can help a person avoid the side effects of removing multiple axillary lymph nodes. The dye will move to certain lymph nodes before others.Ī doctor can use imaging to identify the sentinel lymph nodes, which are the lymph nodes that the dye reaches first.Ī doctor removes one or more sentinel nodes and sends the sample to a pathologist. This means further testing is essential in most people.Ī doctor can use several diagnostic methods to determine whether cancer has spread to the axillary lymph nodes: Sentinel node biopsyĪ sentinel node biopsy involves injecting a radioactive substance or dye into the breast. the loss of hilum, the structure where lymph vessels exit the nodeĪccording to some estimates, laboratory tests find cancerous nodes in one-third of females who test negative during a physical exam.During a physical exam, a doctor may check a person’s armpits for swelling.Ī scan may be able to detect changes in the lymph nodes, such as: When checking whether breast cancer has spread to the axillary lymph nodes, a doctor may perform a physical examination or a scan such as an ultrasound, MRI, or CT.
One possible side effect is lymphedema of the arm, which causes a type of chronic swelling. As a result, removing them can cause some side effects after surgery. Lymph nodes are responsible for draining lymph fluid. A mastectomy is a surgical procedure that removes one or both of a person’s breasts. If cancer has spread to the axillary lymph nodes, a doctor may recommend removing some or all of the lymph nodes during a mastectomy. Because the axillary lymph nodes are so close, breast cancer usually spreads to them before other lymph nodes. Cancer that travels via the lymphatic system may end up growing inside the lymph nodes.Īxillary lymph nodes are in the armpits, which are close to the breasts. Cancer spreads when part of the tumor breaks off and travels to other parts of the body.Ĭancer cells may travel in the bloodstream or through the lymphatic system.
When a person has cancer, it can metastasize, or spread, to other parts of their body. Share on Pinterest Medical Illustration by Bailey Mariner
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