Lymph nodes

Hi and welcome to the Online Community. I'm sorry to read of your Mum's diagnosis and the fact that your Mum's either withholding things from you or she simply hasn't asked the right questions. To be honest when we receive a diagnosis of any type of cancer (mine is different to your Mum's) our mind's go completely blank.

I'm sending a link to some reading matter you might find helpful Cervical cancer. Have a read through it and jot down some questions for your Mum to ask, can you go with her to her appointments? If you think she's not taking it all in you can go as her chaperone - or ask her to record the consultation, with the Consultant's permission.

To answer your question Lymph nodes are situated throughout the body and form part of our immune system, they filter out germs and dead and damaged cells from our bodies. Surgeons "sample" lymph nodes to check if there's any evidence of cancer. If there is there's a chance the cancer might spread - don't panic it's not always the case. I had 6 lymph nodes sampled and there was no cancer in any of them.

If there is evidence then the next step might be chemotherapy.

I'm sure the members here will be along soon to chat. It’s always helpful to others if you write a little something (or a lot) about yourself and your Mum's journey to date. You can enter it into your profile (click on your username and select “Profile”) It’s helpful to other members with a similar diagnosis who can then hopefully answer your questions. It also means that you don't have to keep writing the same thing over and over. You can amend or update it at any time. 

Macmillan Support Services also offer lots of information, support, financial guidance or just someone to listen. It’s free to call 0808 808 0000. Most services are available 8am to 8pm, 7 days a week. Have a look by Clicking here to see what is available and we also have our Ask an Expert section, but do allow two to three working days for replies from our expert team.

Sending you welcoming hugs B xx

Hi Tower

I’m sorry to hear about your mum’s diagnosis..it’s always a very scary time. I was also diagnosed with stage 2b cervical cancer just over 3 years ago. 

I didn’t have lymph node involvement, but yes, Im sorry to confirm that it would change the staging. Lymph node involvement would mean stage 3, and there are further subdivisions of this stage depending on which lymph nodes are affected:stage 3c1 would mean spread to pelvic lymph nodes, and stage 3c2 means spread to the para aortic lymph nodes. I’m not sure what surgery they would doing at this point, as I didn’t have this involvement. 

The treatment for stage 3 is broadly the same as for stage 2b and would involve concurrent radiotherapy and chemotherapy. The type of chemotherapy may depend on there being lymph node involvement or not, so I won’t say much about this until you know more. It may well be that your mum hasn’t taken in all the information she’s been told-it’s very easy to miss things when you are being overloaded with medical information.

As I’ve been through this cancer myself I may be able support you with advice and experience if you think that might help. I always found it helpful myself to speak to real people with real experience. I think it would also be very helpful if you were able to attend appointments with her-do ask the clinic if this is possible. x

Thank u so much for ur reply   I will read the link you sent and hopefully this will help. I had a good discussion with my mummy this morning and I think its just a matter that she isn't taking in information at appointments as she says she just feels so overwhelmed and blocks out wot is being said at the moment. At the minute my auntie (mum's sister) has been attending appointments as this is what mummy wanted. I think she is trying to protect me by not letting me go. Unfortunately my aunt doesn't seem to be asking questions so I have agreed to write some questions down that I would like them to ask at next appointment. My mum has also given me the number to her keywords macmillian nurse so I hope to get a chat with her to hopefully settle my thoughts, feelings and questions that fly around in my head x

Thank u so much for ur reply and the information u have given me so far. It already has helped to make alittle more sense to this journey. I had a good chat with my mum this morning and I think its been a case of her not taken in the information given as she says she finds it very overwhelming and blocks out wot is being said. My auntie (mum's sister) attends the appointments with her and I have went along with this as this is wot mummy has wanted. My mum very much worries about me and her other daughters and likes to try to protect us so I think this is her way of trying to protect us from anything she feels we can't cope with. Unfortunately I am finding that my aunt isn't taking in the information completely either and seems to get mixed up with wot is being said at appointments. I have agreed that if mummy wants my aunt to continue to attend appointments then I would like to write down questions that I would like answered for them to take with them.

Mummy also gave me the number of her keywords macmillian nurse so I hope to contact her and have a good chat to help clear up any confusion and feelings I am having at the moment.

I am so incredibly scared that I will lose my mummy to this awful disease and I am not ready for that at all. I am so scared about the unknown and worry how we will cope if the news is worse.

Hi . I'm so glad to read your Mum's given you her Macmillan Nurse's number so you can have a chat with her. It's so very hard when family members think they are protecting us by keeping us in the dark, makes it twice as hard for you in my opinion. 

When my hubby was diagnosed with Prostate Cancer he was very vague about everything and it was me asking his consultant all the questions. Last year when I was diagnosed with Endometrial (Womb) cancer I had to go to all tests, scans etc. alone as it was in the middle of the pandemic yet when I tried to talk to him about it he almost shrugged his shoulders and said "It is what it is" - not helpful for me! I have found though that the support you will get on these forums is second to none so always feel free to fire off questions, someone usually has a helpful answer like SarahH21, much more informed than mine.

Sending hugs, B x

Ur words have meant so much to me. Just writing it down and getting it off my chest and knowing kind people like urself are listening helps more than I can explain so thank u for that. 

I'm hoping in time once my mummy has taken in her diagnosis that she will then in turn be able to communicate better with me and the doctors. I think at the moment she is still trying process everything. Its only been 3weeks since first being told she had cervical cancer so its all been happening very quickly for us all. I know that mummy has also been in touch with a counselling service to help her deal with things. 

I am so sorry u had to go through everything on ur own. U r incredibly strong and I hope I can take inspiration from ur strength. Thank u x

Hi Tower17,

probably she will have an EUA examination. Examination under anaesthetic.

I had one as well, it is not an operation they just put you under general anaesthetic and the doctor will look if the cancer has spread to the lymph node, bladder etc.

It is not painful and she will can go home the same day when she wakes up.

All the best for the procedure!

regarding staging yes it will change if they find lymph nodes involvement it usually jumps to stage 3 but treatment it will be the same chemo, rads and brachy.

xxx 

Hi again Tower

I know it’s scary, but try not to rush ahead with thoughts of losing your mum. She will be getting treatment which can be extremely effective. And I note someone has mentioned an examination under anaesthetic, which may well be the procedure your mum will have. I had one and it does involve a general anaesthetic but is not an operation. The gynaecologist can get a much better idea of what is going on, and in my case took a small biopsy. In and out of hospital on the same day and very straightforward. At your mum’s stage of 2b, or indeed any stage higher than that, they will not do surgery in the form of a hysterectomy for example, as there is too much risk of the cancer spreading. 

The cancer specialist nurses in my experience are lovely and hopefully will have lots of information for you in answer to any questions you will have. I can understand(being a mum myself) that your mum will want to protect you, but I also appreciate from your point of view that you need to have answers. It’s a good idea to write down any questions that can be asked by your mum or aunt at appointments to hopefully give you a better understanding of everything. And please do ask any questions here too...I have been through a lot of treatment for this cancer and more than 3 years since diagnosis I’m doing very well, so I hope that can give you some hope. x

Hi TOWER17

Sorry to hear about your Mum's diagnosis.

I was diagnosed with stage 2A cervical cancer in 2017.  To check for lymph node involvement I had surgery (keyhole), called a lymphadenectomy or pelvic node dissection, to remove my pelvic lymph nodes which were then sent to the Histology laboratory to investigate if they contained cancer cells. 

Emotionally, I think one of the hardest parts is at the beginning when one is waiting to know the full diagnosis and what the treatment plan will be; fear of the unknown.  It's quite a relief when treatment starts and there is a day to day routine to focus on.

Easy to say but try and take things as they come.  Everyone's a bit different in how we cope with a cancer diagnosis; there's no right or wrong way.  I found it helpful to keep a diary (in an exercise book) of all my appointments, how I was feeling etc which helped me keep track and make sense of what was happening.

Hi 

I had a hysterectomy in august and had my lymph nodes removed due to having cervix cancer. MRI they should be able to see where the cancer is. I had mine removed so cancer wouldn’t spread. 

I hope this helps and if you have questions do contact me.