Hello JHK and thank you for your post,

I am sorry to learn of your situation this must be a difficult time. 

Knowing if there are any cancer cells in the lymph nodes helps the doctors to stage the cancer which helps them to plan whether any further treatment that might be needed. Staging is when they look at the size of the cancer and how far it has spread. With breast cancer, it is usually the lymph nodes in the axilla (armpit) that the cancer will spread to first.  I realise that this does sound scary, but it is important to know that even if cancer is found in the lymph nodes it does not mean that the cancer has spread elsewhere in the body.

When you go for your op, although I think it is unlikely these are related to breast cancer, it is worth mentioning to the doctors or the breast care nurse (CNS) the symptoms you have been experiencing as they will be able to examine you and then may be able to give you more reassurance.

 We have more information about breast cancer and how it is diagnosed and treated here. This link will take you straight to our information about surgery to remove the lymph nodes.

I can appreciate this is a worrying time for you with a lot of uncertainty and I wish you all the best with your op. In the meantime please feel free to get back to us if you need any more information or support.  You may find it helpful to talk things through with one of the nurses on our helpline.  The number to call is Freephone 0808 800 4040 and the lines are open from 9am till 5pm Monday to Friday.

Take care 

Jemma