Metastatic Cancer Treatment & Symptom

Metastatic cancer is  cancer that has spread from its original site in the body to other parts of the body. It occurs when cells break free from a tumor and travel to other locations. In their new location, the cancer cells continue growing. The spread of a tumor to a new part of the body is called metastasis. It is important to understand the difference between metastasis and local spread, because they affect a patient's prognosis and treatment options in different ways. Local spread means that a growing cancer extends beyond the organ in which it developed, into nearby organs and tissues. For example, a tumor in the mouth may spread into the throat. With distant metastatic cancer, the disease spreads through the bloodstream or lymphatic system to other parts of the body. Cancer cells may spread to lymph nodes near the primary tumor. This is called nodal involvement, positive nodes, or regional disease. Cancer cells can also spread to other parts of the body, distant from the primary tumor. Doctors use the term metastatic disease or distant disease to describe cancer that spreads to other organs or to lymph nodes other than those near the primary tumor. When cancer cells spread and form a new tumor, the new tumor is called a secondary, or metastatic, tumor. The cancer cells that form the secondary tumor are like those in the original tumor. That means, for example, that if breast cancer spreads, to the lung, the secondary tumor is made up of abnormal breast cells.

Metastasis means the spread of cancer. Cancer cells can break away from a primary tumor and enter the bloodstream or lymphatic system (the system that produces, stores, and carries the cells that fight infections ). Common regions of the body where the cancer spreads, are the bones, lungs, brain, and liver. Each type of cancer has a typical pattern of spreading. Tumors that develop away from the site of origin are also called metastases. For example, brain metastases (tumors) often occur from cancers that start in the lung or breast. Bone tumors often occur from cancers of the breast, lung and prostate. Spreading to the liver is most common with lymphomas and cancers of the breast, lung, and gastrointestinal tract. Spreading to the lung is most common from leukemia, lymphoma, sarcomas, and cancers of the breast, gastrointestinal tract, skin, and kidney.

Symptoms of Metastatic Cancer

Some common Symptoms of Metastatic Cancer :

• Shortness of breath .
• Weakness.
• Cough.
• Weight loss.
• Headaches.
• Nausea.
• Blurred vision.
• Personality change.

Treatment of Metastatic Cancer

• Radiation therapy.
• Surgery .
• Chemotherapy .