When a doctor uses the TNM system, they will place a number after each letter. the M refers to whether the cancer has metastasized or not.the N refers to the amount of nearby lymph nodes that have cancer cells.the T refers to the size of the original tumor.In the TNM system, each letter refers to a different feature of the cancer: Healthcare professionals may categorize Leukemias and lymphomas differently.Īnother way of grading how far a person’s cancer has developed is the TNM staging system. The staging may also differ depending on the type of cancer. According to the United Kingdom’s National Health Service, the cancer may have spread to the lymph nodes at stage 3. The stage at which cancer has spread to the lymph nodes varies. Healthcare professionals also break stage 3 into multiple categories, including 3a, b, and c. Stave 4: Stage 4 cancer is when the cancer has spread to areas that are distant from the original tumor.The higher the stage, the larger and more spread out the cancer is. Stage 1, 2, and 3: Stages 1 to 3 indicate that there is cancer present.Stage 0: Stage 0 cancer, also called carcinoma in situ (CIS), is when abnormal cells are present, but have not spread.The National Cancer Institute states that the stages of cancer are: Different stages of cancer indicate how far it has spread from its original location. When a doctor discusses a person’s cancer with them, they may refer to the stage it is at. Research indicates that osteosarcomas, a form of bone cancer, only spread to the lymph nodes in 4–11% of cases.Ĭancer can affect people in different ways, so it can be hard to predict how it may spread. Other cancers are slow to develop, and may spread at a slower rate.Ĭertain cancers may only spread to lymph nodes on rare occasions. Some cancers can spread more quickly to the lymph nodes. The rate that cancer spreads to a person’s lymph nodes may depend on the cancer they have. Finally, and most commonly, shaving your armpits can cause your lymph nodes to change because hair follicles can become clogged and slightly inflamed.When does cancer spread to the lymph nodes? In addition, cuts on your fingers, nicks in your cuticles from a manicure, or a simple scrape on your hand can cause your lymph nodes to enlarge as your body fights off infection. So what causes reactivity? Viruses, for one thing, as well as your menstrual cycle, since there is often breast tissue in the armpit area and that tissue responds to hormones as they cycle. The fact that your lymph nodes recede and stop hurting suggests that they are reactive and not malignant, as malignant nodes do not disappear or go down significantly over time. And while enlarged lymph nodes can be a sign of a malignancy such as lymphoma, in that case the nodes would be harder and 'matted' (nonmobile) and they would not hurt when touched. If your lymph nodes are painful or tender to the touch, this is usually a good sign that they are just doing their job.

Chances are this is not a serious condition, and here's why: Lymph nodes in the armpits are often 'reactive' and enlarge as they work to drain infection from the arms or upper chest.

Cancer swollen lymph nodes