How Well Do You Know Your Nodes?

You may be familiar with most of your body parts and how they relate to your health, but if you are like most people, you probably don’t know your lymph nodes! The Lymphoma Coalition is launching the Know Your Nodes campaign for World Lymphoma Awareness Day. The campaign was created with the insight that many people don’t know about lymphoma or understand the importance of their lymphatic system. This fun and interactive campaign will help people around the world learn more about their nodes, and the lymphatic system, and most importantly the signs and symptoms of lymphoma.

Now is the time to get to know your nodes, and find out just how important your lymphatic system is. For example, if you go to the Know Your Nodes website (http://www.knowyournodes.org/quiz.php), you can take informative quizzes,

Which statement best describes how lymph nodes work in your body:

(select one of the following answers)

• a. Lymph nodes work like a guard dog
• b. Lymph nodes work like an assembly line
• c. Lymph nodes work like a filter
• d. Lymph nodes work like a mop

The answer? C 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.