Metastases

Metastasis is the medical term for cancer that spreads to a different part of the body from where it started. When this happens, doctors say the cancer has "metastasized." Your doctor may also call it "metastatic cancer," "advanced cancer," or "stage 4 cancer." But these terms can have different meanings based on where the cancer is located. Not all cancers that are advanced or stage 4 are metastatic.

Causes

Metastases occur when cancer cells break away from the primary tumor and travel to other areas of the body. They can travel through the blood or the lymph system. Once the cancer cells are in the blood, they can go anywhere in the body. Most of the time, they go to the brain, bones, liver, and lungs.

Symptoms

The symptoms of metastatic cancer depend on where the cancer has spread. For example, cancer that spreads to the bones is likely to cause pain and can lead to bone fractures. Cancer that spreads to the brain can cause a variety of symptoms, including headaches, seizures, and unsteadiness. Shortness of breath may be a sign of lung metastases.

Diagnosis

Doctors use a variety of tests to diagnose metastases. These may include blood tests, imaging tests (such as X-rays, CT scans, and MRI scans), and biopsies.

Treatment

Treatment for metastases can include surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, biological therapy, hormone therapy, targeted therapy, or a combination of these. The choice of treatment generally depends on the type of primary cancer, the size and location of the metastasis, the patient's age and general health, and the types of treatments the patient has had in the past.

See also

• Cancer
• Oncology
• Radiation therapy
• Chemotherapy
• Biological therapy
• Hormone therapy
• Targeted therapy

Metastases Resources
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