Many ailments can mimic appendicitis: swollen lymph nodes, inflammation of the intestine, hernias, tumors, and simple viral infections, for starters. The problem is that intestines are lousy pain ...

Written by: Meenakshi Chaudhary Updated at: Jul 01, 2014 00:00 IST ...

Cancerous lymph nodes may be removed as well. The surgeon sews the end of the intestine to an opening made in the abdomen. This allows waste to empty into a bag (colostomy bag) outside the body.

But somehow, lymph nodes are also the first stop for most metastatic cancers. It's paradoxical. The cancer goes right in, but the immune cells aren't doing anything.

Lymph “nodes” are like subway station stops — hubs where “passengers” like red and white blood cells get on and off the route, Geersen says. And tubules throughout the system allow this transport, ...