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The survival rate refers to the proportion of people who are still alive for a length of time after receiving a particular diagnosis. However, if the cancer spreads to the lymph nodes, this rate drops to 30–60%. Research from 2016 notes that 5-year survival rates for colorectal cancer are between 70–80%. Outlook for cancer that has spread to lymph nodes can depend on the type of cancer a person has.įor example, the American Cancer Society (ACS) defines the 5-year survival rate as follows once the cancer has regionally advanced, including spread to the nearby lymph nodes:Ī relative survival rate helps give an idea of how long a person with a particular condition will live after receiving a diagnosis compared with those without the condition.įor example, if the 5-year relative survival rate is 70%, it means that a person with the condition is 70% as likely to live for 5 years as someone without the condition. A person may need to undergo testing to see if their cancer has spread. If a person has cancer cells in their lymph nodes, it may indicate that the cancer is spreading. This number provides information about a person’s cancer. When a doctor uses the TNM system, they will place a number after each letter. the M refers to whether the cancer has metastasized or not.the N refers to the amount of nearby lymph nodes that have cancer cells.the T refers to the size of the original tumor.
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In the TNM system, each letter refers to a different feature of the cancer: Healthcare professionals may categorize Leukemias and lymphomas differently.Īnother way of grading how far a person’s cancer has developed is the TNM staging system. The staging may also differ depending on the type of cancer. According to the United Kingdom’s National Health Service, the cancer may have spread to the lymph nodes at stage 3. The stage at which cancer has spread to the lymph nodes varies. Healthcare professionals also break stage 3 into multiple categories, including 3a, b, and c.
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When does cancer spread to the lymph nodes?
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