What Do You Know About Your Nodes?

Correct! According to a global survey, when asked if they know their nodes, only half (49 per cent) of people said they don't know what they do. Lymph nodes are actually the filters of the lymphatic system. They clean the lymph fluid and lymphocytes, removing bacteria, viruses, and other foreign substances. The nodes are also responsible for the manufacture and storage of infection-fighting cells called lymphocytes.

Correct! A lymph node is a small, kidney bean-shaped organ that looks like a jelly bean. Lymph nodes are approximately 1 cm in size, but they get bigger when they need more power to do their job fighting off bacteria and viruses.

Correct! No one actually knows exactly how many lymph nodes are in the body, but it is estimated there are between 500 and 700 lymph nodes from head to toe.

Correct! When working to fight an infection, the nodes become much larger because they need more power to do their job. You may even notice your lymph nodes become tender when the body is fighting infection.

Yes! You or your doctor can feel lymph nodes in the armpits, the groin and the neck. There are many more that can't be felt, such as nodes in the stomach, pelvis and chest. Doctors will often check lymph nodes on both sides of the body at the same time.

Correct! Lymph nodes can be found anywhere! Nodes are strategically located throughout the whole body where bacteria are most commonly found..

Correct! Nodes are symmetrical making a mirror image from one side to the other. During a regular physical examination, a physician will feel and compare five pairs of matching lymph nodes to make sure they are healthy.

False - Lymph nodes are sometimes incorrectly called "glands" or "lymph glands", but they do not secrete anything and are therefore not glands. Lymph nodes act as filters, with an internal honeycomb of connective tissue filled with lymphocytes that collect and destroy bacteria and viruses.

Correct! A lymphocyte is a type of white blood cell, which helps fight viruses or bacteria that cause infection. Lymphocytes are moved throughout the lymphatic system in a clear fluid called lymph.

Correct! The lymphatic system looks like a maze throughout your body, with many outstretched routes called lymphatic vessels that act like channels carrying a colourless liquid called lymph. In fact, the lymphatic system looks a lot like the circulation system which carries blood through the body.

Infection and cancer beware! The lymphatic system is a network of tissue, ducts and organs that is an important part of the immune system, playing a major role in the body's defense against infection and cancer.

Correct! Lymphatic fluid containing proteins, fats and lymphocytes, flows throughout the lymphatic system. Lymph nodes act as filters that clean the lymphatic fluid, removing bacteria, viruses and other foreign substances.

Lymphoma is the most commonly occurring blood cancer and the third most common childhood cancer. Although the disease is becoming increasingly more common, many people are still unaware of lymphoma and that it is a life-threatening form of cancer.

False - unlike some cancers, the causes of lymphoma are complex and largely unknown. However, researchers are working hard to search out the causes and subsequent treatments and eventually a cure for this cancer.

One million people around the world are living with lymphoma today - approximately the same number of people living in Swaziland. In fact, lymphoma has one of the fastest rising incidence rates of any cancer and the exact cause of it is still unknown.

Symptoms of lymphoma include low energy, fever, unexplained weight loss, severe night sweats and swollen lymph nodes. Since the signs and symptoms of lymphoma can often be mistaken for other less serious illnesses, make sure you know what to look for. According to a recent survey, 50 per cent of respondents couldn't name one symptom of lymphoma, but by knowing more about your nodes, the symptoms can be detected early and there is a better chance for quicker diagnosis, treatment and overall survival. For a complete list of signs and symptoms, visit www.lymphomacoalition.org

False - Hodgkin lymphoma was named after Thomas Hodgkin, who discovered lymphoma in 1832. There are more than 35 types of lymphoma. The two most common types are Hodgkin lymphoma, and non-Hodgkin lymphoma, which break out into 30 different types. The different types of lymphoma affect different types of lymphocytes.

Many but not all lymphomas can be cured or treated at this time. New treatments are being continuously developed to improve the quality of life and offer survival benefits for people living with lymphoma. In recent years there have been exciting advances in research to treat lymphoma which offer much hope.