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Macmillan and Cancerbackup merged in 2008. Together we provide free, high quality information for people affected by cancer through our publications, website and phone service. Find out more|.
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This information is about secondary cancer in the lymph nodes. This describes the situation where cancer cells have spread to the lymph nodes from a cancer that began elsewhere in the body.
We have further information about the different types of lymphomas|, which is cancer that begins in the lymph nodes.
The lymphatic system is one of the body's natural defences against infection. It is made up of organs such as the bone marrow, thymus and spleen, as well as lymph nodes (sometimes called lymph glands) all over the body that are connected by a network of lymphatic vessels.
The lymphatic system
View a large copy of the lymphatic system image|
Cancer can develop in the lymph nodes in two ways. It can either start there as a primary cancer, or it can spread into the lymph nodes from a primary cancer elsewhere in the body. Cancer that starts in the lymph nodes is called lymphoma. If cancer spreads into the lymph nodes from another part of the body, this is known as secondary or metastatic cancer.
Cancerous tumours are made up of millions of cells. Some of these cells may break away from the primary cancer and travel to other parts of the body. They can travel in the lymphatic system to nearby lymph nodes or in the bloodstream to another part of the body where they can grow into secondary tumours.
When cancer spreads to lymph nodes, the cancer cells in the nodes will look like cells from the primary tumour when they are examined under the microscope. For example, when a lung cancer| has spread to the lymph nodes, the cells in the lymph nodes look like lung cancer cells. This affects the way they are treated.
Very often when a primary cancer is operated on, the surgeon will also remove some of the nearby lymph nodes. It's important to know whether or not a primary cancer has spread to any nearby lymph nodes, as it helps the doctors assess the risk of the cancer coming back and to decide whether further treatment is necessary.
The most common sign of cancer cells in the lymph nodes is that one or more of the lymph nodes becomes enlarged or feels hard. However, if there are only a small number of cells in the lymph nodes, they may feel normal, and it's only possible to tell that a cancer is present by removing part, or all, of the lymph node and examining the cells in a laboratory. It is important to remember that lymph nodes can be enlarged for other reasons, such as infections.
If the enlarged lymph nodes are deep inside the chest or abdomen, they may cause pressure on surrounding organs or structures. This can lead to symptoms like breathlessness or backache.
Sometimes a lymph node, or group of nodes, may appear larger than they should on a scan such as an ultrasound scan, CT scan or MRI scan. This may be a sign that there is a secondary cancer in the lymph nodes.
Sometimes a CT scan or MRI scan is all that is needed to make a diagnosis of secondary cancer in the lymph nodes.
A CT scan takes a series of x-rays that build up a three-dimensional picture of the inside of the body. The scan is painless and takes 10–30 minutes. CT scans use a small amount of radiation, which will be very unlikely to harm you and will not harm anyone you come into contact with. You will be asked not to eat or drink for at least four hours before the scan.
You may be given a drink or injection of a dye, which allows particular areas to be seen more clearly. For a few minutes, this may make you feel hot all over. If you are allergic to iodine or have asthma, you could have a more serious reaction to the injection, so it is important to let your doctor know beforehand.
This test is similar to a CT scan but uses magnetism instead of x-rays to build up a detailed picture of areas of your body. Before the scan you may be asked to complete and sign a checklist. This is to make sure that it’s safe for you to have an MRI scan. You'll be able to hear, and speak to, the person operating the scanner.
Before having the scan, you’ll be asked to remove any metal belongings including jewellery. Some people are given an injection of dye into a vein in the arm. This is called a contrast medium and can help the images from the scan to show up more clearly. During the test you will be asked to lie very still on a couch inside a long cylinder (tube) for about 30 minutes. It is painless but can be slightly uncomfortable, and some people feel a bit claustrophobic during the scan. It’s also noisy, but you’ll be given earplugs or headphones.
For some people it may be necessary to carry out further tests, which may include the following:
This involves removing a lymph node, or nodes, under general anaesthetic.
A sample of cells may be taken from an enlarged lymph node, using a fine needle attached to a syringe. The needle biopsy is usually done in a clinic and does not need a general anaesthetic.
The cells can then be sent to a laboratory to be examined under the microscope by a pathologist (a doctor who can diagnose illness by looking at cells).
If your doctors feel that the enlarged lymph nodes (or those seen on a scan) are quite clearly linked to the primary cancer, it may not be necessary to remove a node or take a biopsy.
This is widely used as part of the treatment of breast cancer and malignant melanoma. It is a way of checking just one or two lymph nodes close to the cancer. Usually it's done at the same time as an operation to remove the cancer. It involves injecting a tiny amount of radioactive liquid into the area of the primary cancer. The lymph nodes are then scanned to see which has taken up the radioactive liquid first. A blue dye is also injected into the area of the cancer. The dye stains the lymph nodes blue. The nodes that become blue or radioactive first are known as the sentinel nodes. The surgeon removes only the sentinel nodes so that they can be tested for cancer cells.
If the sentinel nodes do not contain cancer cells, no further surgery will be needed. If the nodes do contain cancer cells, either another operation can be done to remove other nearby nodes or they can be treated with radiotherapy or chemotherapy.
The treatment for a cancer that has spread to the lymph nodes depends on the individual situation, including the person's general health and type of primary cancer|. It may include surgery|, chemotherapy|, radiotherapy|, hormonal therapy|, or a combination of these treatments.
Sometimes lymph nodes close to the primary cancer are removed during surgery to remove the tumour. If cancer cells are found in the lymph nodes, treatment such as chemotherapy may be suggested. This is because if a primary cancer has spread to the nearby lymph nodes, it increases the risk that the cancer may have spread to other parts of the body (even though those glands have been removed). Chemotherapy and/or hormonal therapy can reduce the chance of the cancer coming back for some people.
Learning that your cancer has spread, or come back, can be a shock. You may have many different emotions|, including anger, resentment, guilt, anxiety and fear. These are all normal reactions, and are part of the process many people go through in trying to come to terms with their illness.
Each individual has their own way of coping with difficult situations; some people find it helpful to talk to family or friends, while others prefer to seek help from people outside their situation. Some people prefer to keep their feelings to themselves. There is no right or wrong way to cope, but help is available if you need it.
Our cancer support specialists| can give you information about counselling services in your area.
This section has been compiled using information from a number of reliable sources including:
For answers, support or just a chat, call the Macmillan Support Line free (Monday to Friday, 9am-8pm)
If you have any questions about cancer, need support or just want someone to talk to, ask Macmillan.