Distant

Distant refers to the spread of cancer from the primary site (place where it started) to other places in the body. When cancer has spread to parts of the body far from the primary site, it is called distant cancer.

Overview

Cancer is a group of diseases characterized by the uncontrolled growth and spread of abnormal cells. There are over 100 types of cancer. And any part of the body can be affected. The spread of cancer from one part of the body to another is called metastasis. Distant cancer refers to cancer that has spread from the original (primary) tumor to distant organs or distant lymph nodes.

Distant Metastasis

Distant metastasis is when cancer cells have spread from the primary site of cancer to distant organs or distant lymph nodes. This is a critical factor in the staging of cancer, as it can affect both treatment and prognosis.

Staging and Grading

The staging and grading of cancer is a way of describing the size of a cancer and how far it has grown. When cancer has spread to parts of the body far from the primary site, it is called distant cancer. The stage of cancer is often used to determine the appropriate treatment and to predict a patient's prognosis.

Treatment

Treatment for distant cancer depends on the type of cancer, the stage, and the patient's overall health. Treatment options may include surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, targeted therapy, hormone therapy, stem cell transplant, precision medicine, or a combination of these.

Prognosis

The prognosis for distant cancer varies greatly depending on the type of cancer and the stage at diagnosis. In general, cancers that have spread (metastasized) are harder to treat and are associated with poorer outcomes.

See Also

• Metastasis
• Cancer staging
• Cancer treatment

Distant Resources
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