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Lymph node removal side effects
Cancer | Last Active: Jul 1, 2021 | Replies (3)Comment receiving replies
Yes, thank you. I have not had any problems, and I had read that having all LNs removed could cause problems... so I was just wondering about my situation.
Replies to "Yes, thank you. I have not had any problems, and I had read that having all..."
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@birdman518
It’s great you’re not having any issues! Our lymphatic systems are so fascinating.
The body contains around 500-600 lymph nodes, so yes, if they were all removed it would cause a lot of problems. Sentinel and axillary nodes can be found in clusters. When biopsied the surgeon will remove only the nodes affected in a cluster, not necessarily all of them.
So in your case, only a couple nearest the area impacted by the melanoma would be taken, leaving the rest intact. If there are no cancer cells found in the immediate area there is little chance that the cancer spread beyond that.
Found this interesting chart about the location of lymph nodes in the body. https://www.treatnheal.com/guides/lymph-node-locations-chart-for-armpits-head-neck-groin-chest-stomach-more/