The Lymph System and Cancer

The lymphatic, or lymph, system of the body is the main portion of the body devoted to fighting off infections and staving off disease. The system works through a network of vein-like vessels as well as clusters of organs known as the lymph nodes. The entire lymph system is important for immunity but also plays a role in cancer.

Unlike the blood stream, the lymph system has a dual role in cancer cases. Not only is it important for fighting off the disease by producing white blood cells and a variety of other important devices in a body's attempt to kill off the cells, but it also is one of the most common ways for cancer to spread to the other areas and organs of the body through metastasis. The bloodstream plays a role in metastasis but not in the first.

Cancer can start in the lymphatic system. When this occurs, it is known as lymphoma. When cancer doesn't start in the lymphatic system, like breast cancer, lung cancer, or pancreatic cancer, the cancer cells of that type or location can spread or metastasize through the lymph system quite easily. Once the cells make their way into the lymph system, it is much harder not only to fight the original source but also to completely cure a person.

Fortunately, the lymph system gives an individual some warnings signs that there may be a tumor somewhere in the body. The biggest clue is that the lymph nodes are enlarged. While this may not seem like a big clue, there are lymph nodes located close to the surface in the neck which can be felt without any real expertise.

Enlarged lymph nodes may also be a sign that cancer has started somewhere and spread to the lymph system. The cells in a tumor are bent on total domination and so easily break off from a tumor. They then are easily picked up by the lymph and are then able to go anywhere in the body. Breast cancer, which is a commonly spread cancer, is able to set up colonies throughout the body by its easy access to the lymph nodes located in the arm pits as well as under the sternum.

If a person notices that his or her lymph nodes are swollen, it is somewhat easy to determine if they are swollen due to cancer. A simple biopsy will determine if they are swollen due to an illness in the body or if they are swollen due to cancer.

The mesothelioma attorneys of Williams Kherkher realize the difficulty of detecting mesothelioma at an early stage and so have familiarized themselves with the stages and progression of the disease.