Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsFunction of Lymph NodesTypes of Lymph Node CancerSymptomsDiagnosisStagingTreatment
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Function of Lymph Nodes
Types of Lymph Node Cancer
Symptoms
Diagnosis
Staging
Treatment
When cancer cells begin in thelymph nodes,the cancer is known aslymphoma. Cancer cells can also start in other areas of the body and spread to the lymph nodes in a process known asmetastasis. They can then spread through the lymphatic system to other areas of the body, making the cancer more serious and challenging to treat.
One of the first symptoms of cancer in the lymph nodes is usually lymphadenopathy, which refers to swelling of the lymph nodes.
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The lymph nodes are part of the lymphatic system, an important element in our body’s immune system. The lymphatic system collects fluid that is outside of the bloodstream throughout the body. This clear fluid, known as lymph, can contain waste materials, bacteria, and viruses. It also carries oxygen and other nutrients to cells throughout the body.
Lymph can help fight infections, because it contains white blood cells known aslymphocytes. The lymph vessels then carry lymph fluid to the chest, where it can be collected into a large blood vessel.
As the lymph vessels move the fluid around the body, lymph nodes work as filters for harmful substances like viruses or bacteria. The lymph nodes contain immune cells that attack the harmful material, preventing it from spreading around the body. There are lymph nodes spread throughout the entire body, including under the arms, in the neck, and in the groin.
1:43Click Play to Learn More About Lymph Nodes
1:43
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When the lymph nodes are compromised, such as from cancer or an infection, they can grow in size. The swelling is called lymphadenopathy and is a result of the nodes trying to filter out harmful substances.
Possible causes of lymphadenopathy include infections, injury to the lymph nodes, medications, immune system disorders, and cancer. The cancers most commonly responsible for enlarged lymph nodes are lymphoma andleukemia. Swollen lymph nodes are relatively common, however, and rarely mean cancer.
What Causes Swollen Lymph Nodes?
There are two possibilities for developing cancer in the lymph nodes. First, primary lymph node cancers are grouped under the name lymphomas, and they start in the lymph nodes. Secondary lymph node cancers begin in other areas of the body and then spread to the lymph nodes through metastasis.
Differences Between a Primary Cancer and a Secondary Cancer
Lymphoma
Lymphoma, the most common type of blood cancer, originates in the lymphocytes. Once these cells have mutated and become cancerous, they can spread to the lymph nodes, spleen, bone marrow, and other organs.
There are two broad classifications for lymphoma.
Causes and Risk Factors of Lymphoma
Metastasis
When cancer cells break away from their primary site tumor, they can travel through the blood vessels or lymphatic system. When they travel through the lymphatic system, they will come in contact with the nearest lymph node.
Fortunately, these cancer cells are usually destroyed before they’re able to start multiplying. Sometimes they can attach to the lymph node and start replicating there. This most often happens in the lymph node closest to the primary tumor, which has been working overtime trying to filter out the cancer cells from the tumor.
It is also possible for cancer cells to travel through the blood vessels to areas of the body that are far away from the primary tumor. Once this happens, cancer may be found in lymph nodes distant from the original tumor because a new tumor has formed in another organ. The most common symptoms of metastatic cancer are weakness, unintentional weight loss, pain, and shortness of breath.
What Is Metastasis?
Symptoms of lymph node cancer can resemble a cold or common virus, and usually mean that your body is fighting off an infection. It’s possible to experience a fever, chills, sweating, and lack of energy. The most common symptom of cancer in the lymph nodes islymphadenopathy.
Normal lymph nodes are too small to feel with your fingers. If you notice a feeling of small, hard lumps under the skin in your underarms, neck, or groin, it could mean that your lymph nodes are swollen. On their own, none of these symptoms automatically mean cancer. The more common cause are viral or bacterial infections such as strep throat ormononucleosis.
When to See a Healthcare ProviderBecause lymph node cancer symptoms resemble other conditions, it can be challenging to know when to go to the healthcare provider. The best course of action is to consult your healthcare provider about any changes or concerns, even if you think it is probably nothing. Here are a few signs your healthcare provider should examine:Swollen lymph nodes without other symptomsSymptoms that last longer than two to four weeksFeeling hard or rubbery lumpsPersistent feverNight sweatsUnexplained weight loss or weaknessFeeling hard nodules around your clavicle or belly buttonIt is possible for cancer cells to be present in a lymph node without any swelling. Don’t hesitate to see your healthcare provider if you develop any new or worsening symptoms.
When to See a Healthcare Provider
Because lymph node cancer symptoms resemble other conditions, it can be challenging to know when to go to the healthcare provider. The best course of action is to consult your healthcare provider about any changes or concerns, even if you think it is probably nothing. Here are a few signs your healthcare provider should examine:Swollen lymph nodes without other symptomsSymptoms that last longer than two to four weeksFeeling hard or rubbery lumpsPersistent feverNight sweatsUnexplained weight loss or weaknessFeeling hard nodules around your clavicle or belly buttonIt is possible for cancer cells to be present in a lymph node without any swelling. Don’t hesitate to see your healthcare provider if you develop any new or worsening symptoms.
Because lymph node cancer symptoms resemble other conditions, it can be challenging to know when to go to the healthcare provider. The best course of action is to consult your healthcare provider about any changes or concerns, even if you think it is probably nothing. Here are a few signs your healthcare provider should examine:
It is possible for cancer cells to be present in a lymph node without any swelling. Don’t hesitate to see your healthcare provider if you develop any new or worsening symptoms.
Your healthcare provider may remove an entire lymph node, which is called an excisional biopsy. Removing a portion of the lymph node is called an incisional biopsy. In addition, removing one lymph node is called a biopsy, and removing multiple nodes is called lymph node dissection or sampling.
Your healthcare provider is also able to perform a needle biopsy, during which cells from the lymph node are removed with a syringe and examined under a microscope. A needle biopsy is less invasive, but it does not always provide a large enough sample to confirm a diagnosis. This is usually chosen when your healthcare provider suspects another cause for your swollen lymph nodes, such as infection. A fine-needle aspiration biopsy uses a very thin needle to remove cells from the lymph node, while a core needle biopsy uses a larger needle.
Once the sample is obtained, a pathologist examines the sample under a microscope. If there is secondary cancer present in the lymph nodes, the cells will resemble cells from the primary organ. For example, if lung cancer cells traveled to the lymph node, cells from the lymph node will resemble lung cells.
A pathologist will evaluate the sample with flow cytometry or immunohistochemistry. In these processes, the sample is treated with antibodies that bind to certain proteins. Different types of lymphocytes have different proteins on their surfaces. This can tell the pathologist if the cells are cancerous and which type of cancer is present.
If your medical team suspects that you have primary cancer that has metastasized, or that you have lymphoma, they may recommend apositron emission tomography(PET) scan to find other areas of the body that may be involved.
How Lymphoma Is Diagnosed
The lymph nodes play a critical role in how cancer is staged. Staging is needed to determine where your cancer is and how advanced it has become. Treatment will depend largely on what stage your cancer has been classified as.
The TNM system is used to stage most types of cancer:
Once your medical team has determined where the primary site of cancer is, they will then examine the surrounding lymph nodes to determine how much the cancer has spread. When there is no cancer in the lymph nodes, the N value is 0.
Usually, the lower the TNM stage, the easier the cancer should be to treat. Each case is unique, however, and the stage does not necessarily determine the outcome. For example, a study of patients with triple-receptor-negative breast cancer found that once the cancer metastasized, the number of positive lymph nodes did not seem to affect prognosis.
Breast Cancer Staging: What You Need To Know
Lymphoma Staging
For lymphoma staging, the Lugano classification is used. The Lugano staging of lymphomas focuses on the number of tumor sites (nodal and extranodal) and their location and was derived from the Ann Arbor staging system:
Noteworthy points for staging NHLs according to the Lugano system include:
Treatment for lymphoma usually involves some combination ofchemotherapy, radiation therapy, andimmunotherapy. Patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma may also require abone marrow transplant, stem cell transplant, orCAR T-cell therapy. Surgery is usually only used for diagnosis.
When a lymph node needs to be removed, it is usually done undergeneral anesthesia. The lymph node, along with the surrounding lymphatic tissue and soft tissue, is removed and dissected. One of the most common side effects of lymphadenectomy islymphedema. This occurs when the lymph fluid no longer drains correctly and backs up at the site of the removed lymph node.Other possible side effects of the surgery include numbness, tingling, pain, and skin sloughing at the site.
Unfortunately, once a primary tumor has spread to the lymph nodes, it is more likely to recur. For this reason, cancer that has spread to the lymph nodes is usually treated with radiation and chemotherapy as well as surgery.
A Word From Verywell
If you have noticed enlarged or hard lymph nodes, it’s natural to feel anxious about it. It’s helpful to remember that cancer is usually the least likely explanation. It is important, however, to see a healthcare provider right away to figure out why they are swollen as well as what treatment is needed. An early cancer diagnosis almost always leads to better outcomes than a late one.
13 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Cancer Society.Lymph nodes and cancer.American Cancer Society.What is Hodgkin lymphoma?American Cancer Society.Key statistics for non-Hodgkin lymphoma.American Cancer Society.What is non-Hodgkin lymphoma?American Cancer Society.What are advanced and metastatic cancers?Cleveland Clinic.Swollen lymph nodes.American Cancer Society.Tests for non-Hodgkin lymphoma.American Cancer Society.Cancer staging.Hernandez-Aya LF, Chavez-Macgregor M, Lei X, Meric-Bernstam F, Buchholz TA, Hsu L, Sahin AA, Do KA, Valero V, Hortobagyi GN, Gonzalez-Angulo AM.Nodal status and clinical outcomes in a large cohort of patients with triple-negative breast cancer.J Clin Oncol. 2011 Jul 1;29(19):2628-34. doi: 10.1200/JCO.2010.32.1877.Cheson BD.Staging and response assessment in lymphomas: the new Lugano classification.Chin Clin Oncol. 2015;4(1):5. doi:10.3978/j.issn.2304-3865.2014.11.03Lymphoma Research Foundation.Treatment options for lymphoma.American Cancer Association.Lymphedema.UCSF Department of Surgery.Lymphadenectomy.
13 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Cancer Society.Lymph nodes and cancer.American Cancer Society.What is Hodgkin lymphoma?American Cancer Society.Key statistics for non-Hodgkin lymphoma.American Cancer Society.What is non-Hodgkin lymphoma?American Cancer Society.What are advanced and metastatic cancers?Cleveland Clinic.Swollen lymph nodes.American Cancer Society.Tests for non-Hodgkin lymphoma.American Cancer Society.Cancer staging.Hernandez-Aya LF, Chavez-Macgregor M, Lei X, Meric-Bernstam F, Buchholz TA, Hsu L, Sahin AA, Do KA, Valero V, Hortobagyi GN, Gonzalez-Angulo AM.Nodal status and clinical outcomes in a large cohort of patients with triple-negative breast cancer.J Clin Oncol. 2011 Jul 1;29(19):2628-34. doi: 10.1200/JCO.2010.32.1877.Cheson BD.Staging and response assessment in lymphomas: the new Lugano classification.Chin Clin Oncol. 2015;4(1):5. doi:10.3978/j.issn.2304-3865.2014.11.03Lymphoma Research Foundation.Treatment options for lymphoma.American Cancer Association.Lymphedema.UCSF Department of Surgery.Lymphadenectomy.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
American Cancer Society.Lymph nodes and cancer.American Cancer Society.What is Hodgkin lymphoma?American Cancer Society.Key statistics for non-Hodgkin lymphoma.American Cancer Society.What is non-Hodgkin lymphoma?American Cancer Society.What are advanced and metastatic cancers?Cleveland Clinic.Swollen lymph nodes.American Cancer Society.Tests for non-Hodgkin lymphoma.American Cancer Society.Cancer staging.Hernandez-Aya LF, Chavez-Macgregor M, Lei X, Meric-Bernstam F, Buchholz TA, Hsu L, Sahin AA, Do KA, Valero V, Hortobagyi GN, Gonzalez-Angulo AM.Nodal status and clinical outcomes in a large cohort of patients with triple-negative breast cancer.J Clin Oncol. 2011 Jul 1;29(19):2628-34. doi: 10.1200/JCO.2010.32.1877.Cheson BD.Staging and response assessment in lymphomas: the new Lugano classification.Chin Clin Oncol. 2015;4(1):5. doi:10.3978/j.issn.2304-3865.2014.11.03Lymphoma Research Foundation.Treatment options for lymphoma.American Cancer Association.Lymphedema.UCSF Department of Surgery.Lymphadenectomy.
American Cancer Society.Lymph nodes and cancer.
American Cancer Society.What is Hodgkin lymphoma?
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American Cancer Society.What is non-Hodgkin lymphoma?
American Cancer Society.What are advanced and metastatic cancers?
Cleveland Clinic.Swollen lymph nodes.
American Cancer Society.Tests for non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
American Cancer Society.Cancer staging.
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Cheson BD.Staging and response assessment in lymphomas: the new Lugano classification.Chin Clin Oncol. 2015;4(1):5. doi:10.3978/j.issn.2304-3865.2014.11.03
Lymphoma Research Foundation.Treatment options for lymphoma.
American Cancer Association.Lymphedema.
UCSF Department of Surgery.Lymphadenectomy.
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