What does it mean if it's spread to lymph nodes

Public Archive
1

My Sister aged 42 was diagnosed with Breast Cancer yesterday. We’re all still in shock and have many questions. She has been told it is grade 2 and the next step is she has to go for an operation next week hopefully for the lump to be removed.

We don’t know yet if it has spread to the lymph nodes but what does this mean if it has?

Any advice or knowledge would be much appreciated we are totally in shock.

Thanks

Emily

x

2

Hi Emrush, 

Welcome to the forum but I am sorry that you find yourself here.

I am sorry to hear you and your sister are going through this difficult time. I am sure some of our users will be along soon to offer their support and share their experiences. 

In the meantime if you would like to talk, you or your sister can always call our helpline at 0808 800 6000 who will be able to offer you a friendly ear and help answer any questions you may have about lymph nodes. The opening times are below.

Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm
Late opening Monday and Wednesday 5pm-7pm,
Saturday, 9am-1pm

Best wishes, 

Lizzy 

3

Hi Emily I’m sorry to hear that your sister has been diagnosed but you have come to a good place to get some advice and support, spread to lymph nodes is where they find some breast cancer cells in one or more nodes, they will test what they call the sentinel nodes when they do the lumpectomy, they inject a blue dye in to the tumour and it will track the path to the nearest nodes to it which is where if any cells that are on the move outside of the tumour site are most likely to go, they remove these nodes and test them along with the lump, if they have any Cancer cells in them then they will often do a removal of the rest of the nodes on that side to. Check them also, try not to worry as I know it sounds pretty extreme but it may not get to that point if her nodes are clear, it’s all a big shock initially but things will calm down when you get more information xx Jo 

4

Thank you so much for your replies, it feels like we have so many questions right now and we appreciate you taking time to respond to us.

We hope your treatment goes well.

With huge thanks

Emily

x