Hi,
I have a very close friend who has just been advised that they have new lymph node swelling in their armpit. My friend has stage IV breast cancer metastasis in spine & hip. It all started 6 years ago. Could this be a sign that the cancer is, again moving, or something else?
Cancers have the ability to spread to lymph nodes, so it is possible that this new armpit swelling is the breast cancer cropping up again, but I'm afraid I can't tell you if it is for sure. Lymph nodes in the armpit can swell up for other reasons, for example inflection and the COVID vaccination. Your friend will need to let her doctors know and ask them - they might need to run some tests to find out what is the cause.
I expect it is a bit of a concern for her at the moment and hope she finds out more soon.
Do give us a call if you want to talk anything over on Freephone 0808 800 4040, we are around weekdays 9-5.
Some people are reporting enlarged lymph nodes after the covid vaccination and the nodes can stay up for a few months after. However, without further tests, it isn't really possible to say whether the nodes are raised because of this or for another reason.
It may be helpful for your friend to mention the vaccination, though the specialist will be going through all possibilities carefully I should imagine anyway.
I hope you get to know a little more soon as it must be hard not knowing what's going on at the moment.
