How Cancerous Lymph Nodes are Developed?

Lymph nodes serve a protective function by helping to prevent the dissemination of germs, toxins, and foreign materials throughout the body. When an infection develops in a certain part of the body, the lymph nodes that serve this part will become inflamed. Lymph nodes, which normally are too small to be noticeable, now become enlarged, tender, and painful. If the infection is severe, the involved lymph nodes may form abscesses, and these may break through to the surface, causing a draining sinus.

Scalp infections cause enlargement of the nodes at the back of the neck. Those of the eyes, ears, teeth, mouth, and pharynx involve the nodes beneath the jaw and in the sides and front of the neck. Infections of the hand or the breast activate the nodes in the armpit.

Infection of the lower extremities and of the genital organs involves the inguinal nodes in the groin. Infection which affects lymph nodes may be caused by bacteria, viruses, spirochetes or fungi. When an infection is generalized, as in such diseases as measles, scarlet fever, and infectious mononucleosis, the lymph nodes of the entire body are affected. The lymph nodes become involved, of course, in the diseases of the lymphatic tissues like leukemia and Hodgkin’s disease.

Many types of cancer are carried to other parts of the body by the lymph stream. This explains why the lymph nodes located in the path of lymph drainage from a cancer often become cancerous. Lymph nodes so involved usually feel more firm than those activated by infection.

source: mdinfo