Breast cancer and axillary lymph nodes

摘要

Lymph isaclearfluid surrounding cells in the bodythat drains through lymphatic channels into lymph nodes. When an infection is present, lymph nodes detect it and help launch a series of events to fight the infection. Cancer cells may break away from the main tumor and circulate through the lymphatic system or through blood vessels. When some types of cancer cells lodge in the lymph nodes, cancer grows. When treating some cancers, it is important to know whether lymph nodes contain cancer cells to determine whether cancer may have spread throughout the body.