With the gradual increase in breast cancer, the progressive development of disease, will be invaded lymphatic metastasis to its lymphatic drainage area. Based on years of clinical experience of experts pointed out: lymph node metastasis of breast cancer the most common site is the ipsilateral axillary lymph nodes. Lymph nodes often by small and gradually increase the number of lymph nodes by a small gradual increase in the beginning, swollen lymph nodes can promote the final integration with each other and fixed.
May apply to the same side of breast cancer axillary lymph node metastases, but also through the anterior chest wall and internal mammary lymph network traffic with each other to the contralateral axillary lymph node metastasis, the incidence is about 5%. In addition, the advanced breast cancer can still have ipsilateral supraclavicular lymph node metastasis, and even contralateral supraclavicular lymph node metastasis.
Less than if the breast lump, but in order to axillary lymph nodes from the first symptoms of treatment of relatively small, when the axillary lymph nodes, pathology proved to be metastatic cancer, in addition to carefully check the lymphatic drainage outside the region, yet to rule out lung and digestive tract tumors.
Swollen lymph nodes, if violated. Oppression axillary vein ipsilateral upper extremity edema can often; such as invasion and shoulder pain caused by brachial plexus nerve. Check the axillary lymph nodes should be relaxed so that limb as far as possible, so that the top can be palpable axillary. Swollen lymph nodes still need to pay attention if touched on the number of lymph nodes. Size. Texture. Activity and the surface conditions in order and inflammation. Differentiated from tuberculosis.
If the pathological tips are metastatic adenocarcinoma, pay attention to “occult breast cancer” may be. At this point, many failed to find breast lesions, mammography may help diagnosis. Lymph node-line hormone receptor determination, if positive, even if the examinations have failed to find the breast lesion, still have to consider the source of breast cancer.
