Doctors can learn a lot about the status of breast cancer by examining lymph nodes. This quiz covers lymph node surgery and its role in breast cancer treatment.
Quiz-summary
0 of 6 questions completed
Questions:
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
Information
You have already completed the quiz before. Hence you can not start it again.
Quiz is loading...
You must sign in or sign up to start the quiz.
You have to finish following quiz, to start this quiz:
Results
0 of 6 questions answered correctly
Time has elapsed
Categories
- Not categorized 0%
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- Answered
- Review
-
Question 1 of 6
1. Question
When surgeons remove breast cancer tumours, they usually remove lymph nodes from under the arm as well.
Correct
One part of the surgery involves removing the cancer from the breast – either a lumpectomy or a mastectomy. The second part is removal of some or all of the lymph nodes under the arm. This is called lymph node dissection, and its goal is to provide doctors with more information about the status of the cancer.
Incorrect
One part of the surgery involves removing the cancer from the breast – either a lumpectomy or a mastectomy. The second part is removal of some or all of the lymph nodes under the arm. This is called lymph node dissection, and its goal is to provide doctors with more information about the status of the cancer.
-
Question 2 of 6
2. Question
Every part of the body drains lymph fluid to a specific lymph node.
Correct
The lymphatic system is a complex network of vessels that carry lymph fluid back towards the heart. Each vessel ends in a node. Every part of the body drains lymph fluid to a specific lymph node. Fluid from the breasts drain to the nodes underneath the arm, which are called axillary lymph nodes (‘axilla’ means underarm).
Incorrect
The lymphatic system is a complex network of vessels that carry lymph fluid back towards the heart. Each vessel ends in a node. Every part of the body drains lymph fluid to a specific lymph node. Fluid from the breasts drain to the nodes underneath the arm, which are called axillary lymph nodes (‘axilla’ means underarm).
-
Question 3 of 6
3. Question
By examining lymph nodes from under the arm, doctors can find out whether the cancer has spread to other parts of the body.
Correct
When breast cancer cells leave the breast, the first place they go is to the lymph nodes in the underarm. By removing some of these nodes and examining them, doctors can tell if breast cancer cells have left the breast and may have spread to other parts of the body.
Incorrect
When breast cancer cells leave the breast, the first place they go is to the lymph nodes in the underarm. By removing some of these nodes and examining them, doctors can tell if breast cancer cells have left the breast and may have spread to other parts of the body.
-
Question 4 of 6
4. Question
Surgeons usually need to remove all the lymph nodes under the arm to find out whether breast cancer cells have left the breast.
Correct
Current methods for lymph node dissection focus on the specific nodes that cancer cells will move to first. These are called sentinel nodes. By singling out these nodes, surgeons can remove only one or two lymph nodes instead of removing the entire fat pad containing all of the axillary nodes. If those sentinel nodes are negative, in most cases doctors can safely say that all the other nodes are also likely negative.
Incorrect
Current methods for lymph node dissection focus on the specific nodes that cancer cells will move to first. These are called sentinel nodes. By singling out these nodes, surgeons can remove only one or two lymph nodes instead of removing the entire fat pad containing all of the axillary nodes. If those sentinel nodes are negative, in most cases doctors can safely say that all the other nodes are also likely negative.
-
Question 5 of 6
5. Question
Removing only sentinel lymph nodes instead of all of the lymph nodes under the arm reduces the risk of surgical complications.
Correct
Removing only one, or a few, lymph nodes instead of all of them reduces patients’ post-surgical symptoms such as pain, numbness and the need for a drain under the arm for several days after surgery. Sentinel node dissection has significantly reduced the severity of symptoms after breast cancer surgery.
Incorrect
Removing only one, or a few, lymph nodes instead of all of them reduces patients’ post-surgical symptoms such as pain, numbness and the need for a drain under the arm for several days after surgery. Sentinel node dissection has significantly reduced the severity of symptoms after breast cancer surgery.
-
Question 6 of 6
6. Question
While lymph node dissection is an important part of breast cancer surgery, it may increase the risk of lymphedema.
Correct
Women who have undergone treatment for breast cancer may be at risk of developing lymphedema – an accumulation of fluid that results from an inability to drain lymph fluid from tissues. In breast cancer patients, lymphedema most commonly occurs in the arm on the side of the affected breast, but it can also affect the chest, hand, back or the underarm. However, removing only the sentinel nodes instead of all of the lymph nodes under the arm reduces this risk significantly.
Incorrect
Women who have undergone treatment for breast cancer may be at risk of developing lymphedema – an accumulation of fluid that results from an inability to drain lymph fluid from tissues. In breast cancer patients, lymphedema most commonly occurs in the arm on the side of the affected breast, but it can also affect the chest, hand, back or the underarm. However, removing only the sentinel nodes instead of all of the lymph nodes under the arm reduces this risk significantly.
This information is provided by Women’s College Hospital and is not intended to replace the medical advice of your doctor or health care provider. Please consult your health care provider for advice about a specific medical condition. This document was last reviewed on: Oct. 23, 2015
Women's Health Matters | Health Centres & Forums
Bone & Joint Health | Diabetes | Heart Health | Mental Health | Forums
