Question about lymph nodes and metastasis

mkinoly

Today I was reviewing my umx pathology report. I knew I had 1 positive sentinel node, and on the report it's referred to as metastatic breast cancer in the lymph node. That got me to wondering if I had metastatic cancer (to the 1 of 2 lymph nodes they tested) why am I not stage 4? I understand the definitions of the stages (I think) and I get why I am stage 2A based on those definitions. But I don't understand why I'm not referred to as having metastasis? Is it because the lymph node is gone? Or because it was only 1 lymph node? Or...?

I hope this all makes sense. Just trying to understand why a positive node isn't metastasis (though it's defined as that on the pathology report). If another positive node happens to be found later on will I then be referred to as having metastasis?

Maya15

Hi, a positive lymph node is what they call "local metastasis". It's still in the breast area, and it isn't what's known as stage 4 or metastatic breast cancer, which is when you have "distant" metastasis, like to bones, lungs, liver, etc.