Lymph nodes (or lymph glands) are part of your body’s immune system.
The immune system helps to fight infections and filters waste products.
Your lymph nodes may swell up (lymphadenopathy) during an infection.
Common causes of swollen lymph nodes include viral and bacterial infections such as glandular fever and tonsillitis.
Your lymph nodes play an important role in cancer diagnosis, treatment, and your chance of recovery.
What are lymph nodes?
Your lymph nodes (or lymph glands) are small lumps of tissue that contain white blood cells, which fight infection. They are part of your body’s immune system. They filter your lymph fluid, which is composed of fluid and waste products created by the body’s tissues.
Lymph nodes help to fight infections. The glands near the infection can swell up (lymphadenopathy).
Where are my lymph nodes found?
Your lymph nodes are located throughout your body, including your:
Your lymph nodes drain lymph fluid from your nearby organs and areas of your body.
What is the role of my lymph nodes?
Your lymph fluid is carried to your lymph nodes by lymphatic vessels. The lymph nodes filter out harmful substances and waste products. They also contain immune cells called lymphocytes that destroy bacteria and cancer cells.
The filtered fluid is then returned to your blood.
If you have an infection or cancer, a lymph node may become swollen. If you are concerned about your lymph nodes, speak to your doctor.
Your lymph nodes are located throughout your body. They drain lymph fluid from your nearby organs or areas of your body.
What causes swollen lymph nodes?
Your lymph nodes may be swollen due to infection or inflammation. Swollen lymph nodes may be found in your neck, under the arms or anywhere else that there are lymph nodes.
Common causes of swollen lymph nodes are:
viruses (such as glandular fever)
bacterial infections (such as tonsillitis)
some autoimmune conditions
Your lymph nodes can swell up to several centimetres. They may stay swollen for several weeks after an infection.
Sometimes cancer can start in your lymph nodes (such as in lymphoma). Some other types of cancer can also spread from one part of your body to another through your lymph nodes.
Your lymph nodes play an important role in cancer including its diagnosis and treatment. They provide some information on your chance of recovery.
If you have cancer, your doctors will examine your lymph nodes carefully to see whether they are affected by cancer. They can do this by:
feeling the lymph nodes in your neck, armpits and groin
Cancer can also start in the lymph nodes. These are called lymphomas. "In general, cancers that have spread to the lymph nodes are typically stage 2 or 3," says Juan Santamaria, MD, Nebraska Medicine surgical oncologist. "Many of these cancers are still treatable and even curable at this stage.
Swollen lymph nodes are a sign that something is wrong somewhere in your body. When your lymph nodes first swell, you might notice: Tenderness and pain in the lymph nodes. Swelling that may be the size of a pea or kidney bean, or even larger in the lymph nodes.
Feeling a normal lypnh node will not make it larger. There are many reasons for enlarged lymph nodes, including other infections. It is a good idea a medical professional to check you for those.
Lymph nodes (also called lymph glands) are part of your immune system, and they let you know when your body is fighting an infection by becoming enlarged or sensitive to the touch. They also function as an early warning system for some types of cancer.
Cancer in the lymph nodes is usually a sign that cancer is starting to spread, but it is often treatable. How serious it is will depend on many factors, such as the type of cancer, the rate at which it is growing, the person's overall health, and the treatment options available.
More than 70 percent of people live longer than 5 years after their diagnosis. Your outlook depends on factors such as your overall health, age, and the type of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma you have. Your healthcare team can give you the best idea of what to expect.
For example, what appears to be a swollen lymph node in your armpit can actually be a cyst caused by shaving or using antiperspirants. Another common type of lump that may appear in lymph glands is a lipoma—a noncancerous, smooth mass comprised of fatty tissue.
Healthcare providers usually only worry about swollen lymph nodes when they enlarge for no apparent reason. If you have a large, swollen area but you're not feeling sick and you didn't recently have a cold, flu or other infection, see your healthcare provider.
Do not squeeze, drain, or puncture a painful lump. Doing this can irritate or inflame the lump, push any existing infection deeper into the skin, or cause severe bleeding. Get extra rest.
Swollen lymph nodes will feel like soft, round bumps, and they may be the size of a pea or a grape. They might be tender to the touch, which indicates inflammation. In some cases, the lymph nodes will also look larger than usual. Lymph nodes appear in parallel on both sides of the body.
While stress does not directly cause swollen lymph nodes, it can drastically affect other areas of your body. The consequences of unchecked stress can include more frequent illnesses — which can lead to trouble with your lymphatic system.
Your lymph nodes get larger when more blood cells come to fight off an invading infection. They all essentially pile in, causing pressure and swelling. Often, the lymph nodes that swell will be close to the infection's site. That means if you have strep throat, you may develop swollen lymph nodes in your neck.
Stage 3 usually means the cancer is larger. It may have started to spread into surrounding tissues and there are cancer cells in the lymph nodes nearby.
Cancer that starts in the lymph nodes is called lymphoma. You can read more about lymphoma in Hodgkin Lymphoma and Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma. More often, cancer starts somewhere else and then spreads to lymph nodes.
Stage 4. Stage 4 is the most advanced stage of lymphoma. Lymphoma that has started in the lymph nodes and spread to at least one body organ outside the lymphatic system (for example, the lungs, liver, bone marrow or solid bones) is advanced lymphoma.
Introduction: My name is Pres. Carey Rath, I am a faithful, funny, vast, joyous, lively, brave, glamorous person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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