No we cannot live without the lymphatic system. It cleans us from waste products. Lymph nodes contain lymphocytes = white blood cells that help destroy pathogens, such as bacteria, viruses, and fungi. When lymph nodes detect a pathogen in the lymph, they produce more lymphocytes, which causes them to swell. We can live without some lymphnodes if they have to be removed to see if they are cancerous for example. When they are removed they grow again. We have a lot of lymphnodes in difference places in our body.