The only method to identify whether or not a lymph node has cancer cells, is to surgically remove the node and perform examination with a microscope to detect abnormal cancer cells.
Cancer staging considers the size of the tumor, whether it has grown into surrounding lymph nodes and whether it has spread to distant parts of the body (metastasized).
"N" represents the spread of the cancer to lymph nodes, largely determined by those nodes removed at surgery that contain cancer cells.
Prostate Cancer originates in the Male Prostate, however it can metastasize, or spread to other areas of the body.
Removal of Lymph NodesThe lymph nodes are a way of travel for breast cancer cells. This is the first place they go if the cancer has spread. They remove the lymph nodes to see if the cancer has spread. Hopefully, the breast cancer cells will not have gone past the lymph nodes, and with removal of them and the cancer in the breast, the cancer is gone. Unfortunately, this is not always the case, and the cancer can spread to other parts of the body through the lymph nodes. The more lymph nodes that are positive for cancer, the more likely the cancer has spread to distant places in the body. Early detection is the key! Keep up on the mammograms and self examination. It could save your life!AnswerThe above poster gave an excellent answer, but just wanted to add that lymph nodes are throughout our body and are filters for our body, thus, of there are cancer cells they can travel through lymph nodes.
The significance of enlarged lymph nodes connected to breast cancer is that when these lymph nodes get enlarged by either cancerous cells or other problems, it may be felt at breast examination.
Cancer cells that break free from the primary tumor can metastasize via the lymph system. Non-metastasized cancer is easier to treat.
A sentinel lymph node is the first lymph node that drains a cancer. If a cancer has not spread to the first draining lymph node near a cancer, there is a high likelihood it has not spread elsewhere.
No - they are essential for protecting the body from infection and their function is to filter lymph fluid which circulates specialised white blood cells called lymphocytes throughout the body. It is these that are vital to the body's defences as they produce antibodies which play a part an important role in fighting infection.
By definition, it is caused by escape of cancer cells from a localized area into the general blood or lymph circulation, taking the cancer cells to more distant sites.
Breast cancer is caused by cells that lose control over how fast they replicate. Cancer cells divide quickly and rapidly, and they can invade surrounding tissues. Cancer cells can also travel to lymph nodes and to other sites in the body.
Prostate metastasis is when cancer cells in the prostate get into the lymph system and begin to travel to other organs of the body, spreading the cancer.
Cancer cells are found in the affected organ or tissue. There are several types of cancer depending on anatomical location within the body like skin cancer, blood cancer, lung cancer etc. Also it depends on how a particular type of cancer spreads like the Carcinomas spread through lymph so the cancer cells can be found at lymph nodes whereas, the sarcomas spread through blood. Another noteworthy thing is that in the later stages of cancer it can spread to a distant organ and start a secondary cancer in the new location.