How cancer spreads?

Cancer can spread through the blood stream, so yes, it can spread even without lymph node involvement

Waiting - I agree with others. What I don't know and have not seen much in writing is whether blood loss during surgery can be involved in the spreading of cancer cells elsewhere. I wish you a final biopsy that will let you sleep soundly at night. Hugs, Nisa

My BS said he can 100% guarantee I have cancer cells floating in my body even though negative node and no LVI. They might be setting up shop somewhere to lie dormant and grow, whether it be 2 years or 20 years.  What?????? The hormonal therapy is supposed to starve them to their death. 

Yes,  I heard that too.  They're not sure what signals the cells to wake-up. I would just like to know how they wound up in my body minus LVI and lymph node involvement. 

That's what I can't wrap my head around. If there's no vascular invasion, how can that be? 

The cells, at some point, are too small to be detected by the means that currently exist. It's that simple and that complicated at the same time. Do the best you can to manage your health now and don't live in fear of the "what ifs". Not easy , but easier with time. Don't let the"what ifs" rob you of life today and as time goes on, diagnostics and treatments will continue to improve.

I remember that some research tried to monitor the circulating tumor cells (CMC) by detecting their bio-markers. But the reality turned out to be more complicated than the theory so it was still in the experimental stage (cancer cells changed their bio-makers from the primary site etc). And the study only recruited stage 3 patients.

The very reason some of you have chemotherapy is to kill those errant cells circulating in your blood stream. Same with radiation. It is done to kill any remaining cells that might linger in the area of the tumor. Although worry is never gone and recurrence is a real threat to all of us, most of us will never have a relapse. May all of us never hear those words "it is back" ever again! For those of you Stage IV, may you remain NED until that cure comes along. I pray it is soon!

Stephmoen - just goes to show you how different these docs are. Mine said "I can guarantee 100% you have cancer cells floating around in your body", even though I had negative nodes. He said negative nodes have a better outcome but it can still escape via your blood. He also said no surveillance...meaning I did not have a PET scan, MRI, etc. at diagnosis. Said prognosis same whether it's found early or when you become symptomatic. Sigh.

It was explained to me by the MO that we all have cells that 'mutate'. These mutations are either due to genetics or environmental factors...we then have our immune system and tumor suppressor genes that stop the mutations from developing into cancer. Cancer develops when our tumor suppressor genes and immune system fail, for whatever reasons.

Would love to know what other MO's say.

I had a 3.5 cm tumor with no node involvement by imaging. I did neoadjuvant chemo so while snb came negative afterwards I'll never know if there was a micro invasion. When I initially mentioned about this concern of never knowing before starting chemo, doctor told me it would not change my treatment plan so it really is not useful info. I figured if th tumor could grow that much and clearly it's connected to blood supply, surely cells must have entered the bloodstream at one point. it's hard to accept but it's the reality for most of us. I feel angry when I think of how we can't know in this day and age what triggers this