Metastasis Question

jojo2373 · March 2015

A nagging question that i hope someone can answer. I have read alot about how scientists are studying how cells "turn on" the part to start the metastasis process away from the primary tumor. Some peoples tumor have the mechanism and others tumors done - thus why some spread and others do not. My question is if you have tumor spread to your lymph nodes is it true to say its already proven you have this mechanism??

dlb823 · March 2015

Interesting question, jojo. I'm not a scientist, but I would think the direct lymph drainage from the breast to the lymph nodes might be an exceptionally direct and easy path for bc cells to navigate compared to others. But I think it's a question worth posing to the authors of the study(ies) for clarification. I've reached out in the past when I had a question, and actually gotten a response, so it might be worth a try.

There's also been a lot of focus recently on the host environment in which bc grows, and that may be another key factor. The lymph node area is very much like the breast area due to its adjacent proximity. Perhaps it's more difficult for bc cells to set up in distant areas even if they travel there if the tissue in that area isn't ideal to encourage growth. Just a thought... Deanna

KSil · March 2015

Very interesting question, and one that I too have pondered. I had 4 positive nodes, so I hope that my cells do not possess the traveling mechanism, and if they do, that they don't feel at home anywhere else in my body, and won't stick around.

jojo2373 · March 2015

I wish the answer was clear but in my mind it says my tumor had started the metastasis process. My lymph nodes were catching the mets but who knows how many made it. I had systemic neoadjuvant chemo for that but still had cancer in my node's at surgery. It just leaves me wondering

Metastasis Question

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