They are located throughout the body.
Here’s what to know about their role in infections and cancer.
The lymph vessels carry a clear fluid called lymph that is collected from tissues throughout the body.
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Lymph contains cell wastes like cancer cells, bacteria, and viruses.
This fluid is filtered by infection-fighting cells within thelymph nodes.
This is called lymphadenopathy, oradenopathyfor short.
Are Tonsils Lymph Nodes?
Tonsils are considered lymphatic organs and act as lymph nodes, although they are much larger.
Frequently Asked Questions
Many lymph nodes are deep inside the body and cannot be felt.
Superficial lymph nodes may become enlarged or swollen if cancerous.
Cancer can spread from the primary location, such as the breast, to surrounding lymph nodes.
The lymph nodes closest to the cancer site are typically called sentinel lymph nodes.
Cancer cells typically migrate to other areas of the body through lymphatic tissues or blood vessels.
It is common for cancer to spread to surrounding lymph nodes and then further throughout the body.
Cancer in lymph nodes is usually discovered when lymph nodes are biopsied in surgery.
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