How does metastatic cancer develop?

This is an automatically translated article.

The article is professionally consulted by Associate Professor, Doctor, Doctor Vu Hong Thang - Oncologist - Radiation Oncology Center - Vinmec Times City International Hospital. And Master, Doctor Tran Ngoc Hai - Internal Oncologist - Internal Oncology Department - Vinmec Times City International General Hospital. The doctor has extensive experience in the examination, diagnosis and treatment of cancers.
Metastatic cancer means the cancer has spread to another part of the body from where it started. When this happens, doctors say that the cancer has metastasized. A cancer that has not spread to another part of the body is also called advanced cancer or locally advanced cancer.

1. The process of metastatic cancer

The main reason cancer is serious is its ability to spread in the body. Cancer cells can spread locally by moving into nearby normal tissue. Cancer can also spread locally, to nearby lymph nodes, tissues, or organs, and it can spread to other parts of the body. When this happens, it is called metastatic cancer.
Metastatic cancer means cancer cells spread to other organs. Metastasis is most common when cancer cells break away from the main tumor and enter the bloodstream or lymphatic system. These systems carry fluid throughout the body. This means that cancer cells can move away from the original tumor and form new tumors when they settle and grow in another part of the body.
Metastatic cancer can also sometimes develop when cancer cells from the main tumor, typically in the abdomen or abdominal cavity, break off and grow in nearby areas, such as in the liver. lungs or bones.
Any type of cancer can spread. Whether or not this happens depends on several factors, including:
Type of cancer: Some cancers are more likely to spread. How fast the cancer grows. Other characteristics of the cancer that your doctor may find.

2. How is metastatic cancer diagnosed?

A cancer that has spread to another area is named after the original cancer. For example, breast cancer that has spread to the liver is called metastatic breast cancer, not liver cancer. This is because the cancer starts in the breast and the treatment used is breast cancer.
Patients will have to see a doctor to check their health status regularly. Tests may be done to look for metastatic cancer cells.
In addition, some people with cancer have metastasized at the time of diagnosis. In this situation, metastatic cancer is often found during initial tests to evaluate the stage of the cancer.
Cancer can cause symptoms such as pain or difficulty breathing. Sometimes these symptoms will be the basis for the doctor to order the necessary tests to find metastases.

3. Treatment of metastatic cancer

Treatment for metastatic cancer depends on:
The original cancer and where it started. How much has the cancer spread and where is it located? Your age and health. Choose your own treatment.

Researchers are learning more about how metastasis can differ from the original tumor at the molecular and genetic levels. This is why treatment for metastases is often different from the treatment used for the original tumor.
Treatment may include chemotherapy or hormone therapy. Surgery and radiation therapy may also be options for some types of cancer. Doctors may try one type of treatment and then switch to another if the first treatment no longer works, or a combination of more than one treatment.
The main types of treatment for metastatic cancer include:
Systemic treatment: Doctors call this systemic therapy. It includes chemotherapy and other drugs, such as targeted therapy, hormone therapy, and immunotherapy. Treatment for the cancerous area: It includes surgery, radiation therapy, and some other treatments. As you choose a treatment, talk to doctors who have experience treating metastatic cancer. Doctors may have different opinions about the best treatment plan.
In some situations, metastatic cancer can be cured, but usually, treatment is aimed at stabilizing and prolonging. However, doctors can slow tumor growth and relieve symptoms. Patients can live for months or years with some types of cancer, even after the disease has metastasized.

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Reference source: cancer.gov