Lymph node involvement

LillieRose

this may be a stupid question but I just for my node biopsy results back and they were negative. They said good news but that it is still possible for cancer to have spread? I'm confused... If a FNB comes back negative isn't that great news?!?

ElaineTherese

Congrats on your clean biopsy! Yes, your cancer may have spread anyways. It's traveling through your lymph system and bloodstream. It just hasn't set up shop in that lymph node. Often, it does spread first to your lymph nodes, but it could go anywhere.

Kicks

Not every node was biopsied - it is possible that there are other ones that were not biopsied to be positive. It is also possible for cancer to have metatisied to other areas. That's why full body scans are done. IF something does 'light up' on a PET does not automatically mean it is a met though. Any area of 'inflammation' can light up and then be checked.

placid44

Lillie,

That is good news. It does happen for there to be spread that actually takes root, even with clean nodes, but it is "relatively rare," according to my surgeon.In those cases, it goes through blood or just bypasses the nodes. Either way, there can be stray cells circulating, which chemo helps with. For stage 2, they probably won't do a pet scan...they didn't with me either.

molly1976

i am stage 1 with a clear sentinel node and my MO told me it is about 1% of cancers like mine that would spread without having gone through lymph nodes.

LillieRose

thank you all! That makes me feel better!