{"id":9020,"date":"2025-03-20T07:24:00","date_gmt":"2025-03-20T12:24:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mickeylieberman.com\/cancer\/?p=9020"},"modified":"2025-03-20T07:24:00","modified_gmt":"2025-03-20T12:24:00","slug":"metastatic-cancer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mickeylieberman.com\/cancer\/metastatic-cancer\/","title":{"rendered":"What is Metastatic Cancer?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Metastatic Cancer<\/span><\/p>\n

Cancer that spreads from where it started to a distant part of the body is called metastatic cancer.<\/span><\/p>\n

For many types of cancer, it is also called stage IV (4) cancer. The process by which cancer cells spread to other parts of the body is called metastasis.<\/span><\/p>\n

When observed under a microscope and tested in other ways, metastatic cancer cells have features like that of the primary cancer and not like the cells in the place where the metastatic cancer is found.<\/span><\/p>\n

This is how doctors can tell that it is cancer that has spread from another part of the body.<\/span><\/p>\n

Metastatic cancer has the same name as the primary cancer.<\/span><\/p>\n

For example, breast cancer that spreads to the lung is called metastatic breast cancer, not lung cancer. It is treated as stage IV breast cancer, not as lung cancer.<\/span><\/p>\n

Sometimes when people are diagnosed with metastatic cancer, doctors cannot tell where it started.<\/span><\/p>\n

This type of cancer is called cancer of unknown primary origin, or CUP.<\/span><\/p>\n

How Cancer Spreads<\/span><\/p>\n

Metastasis: How Cancer Spreads<\/span><\/p>\n

During metastasis, cancer cells spread from the place in the body where they first formed to other parts of the body.<\/span><\/p>\n

Cancer cells spread through the body in a series of steps.<\/span><\/p>\n

These steps include:<\/span><\/p>\n

growing into, or invading, nearby normal tissue<\/span>
\nmoving through the walls of nearby lymph nodes or blood vessels<\/span>
\ntraveling through the lymphatic system and bloodstream to other parts of the body<\/span>
\nstopping in small blood vessels at a distant location, invading the blood vessel walls, and moving into the surrounding tissue<\/span>
\ngrowing in this tissue until a tiny tumor forms<\/span>
\ncausing new blood vessels to grow, which creates a blood supply that allows the metastatic tumor to continue growing<\/span><\/p>\n

Most of the time, spreading cancer cells die at some point in this process.<\/span><\/p>\n

But, as long as conditions are favorable for the cancer cells at every step, some of them are able to form new tumors in other parts of the body.<\/span><\/p>\n

Metastatic cancer cells can also remain inactive at a distant site for many years before they begin to grow again, if at all.<\/span><\/p>\n

Where Cancer Spreads<\/span><\/p>\n

In metastasis, cancer cells break away from where they first formed and form new tumors in other parts of the body.<\/span><\/p>\n

Cancer can spread to almost any part of the body, although different types of cancer are more likely to spread to certain areas than others.<\/span><\/p>\n

The most common sites where cancer spreads are bone, liver, and lung.<\/span><\/p>\n

The following list shows the most common sites of metastasis, not including the lymph nodes, for some common cancers:<\/span><\/p>\n

Common Sites Where Cancer Spreads<\/span><\/p>\n

Bladder Bone, liver, lung<\/span>
\nBreast Bone, brain, liver, lung<\/span>
\nColon Liver, lung, peritoneum<\/span>
\nKidney Adrenal gland, bone, brain, liver, lung<\/span>
\nLung Adrenal gland, bone, brain, liver, other lung<\/span>
\nMelanoma Bone, brain, liver, lung, skin, muscle<\/span>
\nOvary Liver, lung, peritoneum<\/span>
\nPancreas Liver, lung, peritoneum<\/span>
\nProstate Adrenal gland, bone, liver, lung<\/span>
\nRectal Liver, lung, peritoneum<\/span>
\nStomach Liver, lung, peritoneum<\/span>
\nThyroid Bone, liver, lung<\/span>
\nUterus Bone, liver, lung, peritoneum, vagina<\/span><\/p>\n

Symptoms of Metastatic Cancer<\/span><\/p>\n

Metastatic cancer does not always cause symptoms.<\/span><\/p>\n

When symptoms do occur, what they are like and how often you have them will depend on the size and location of the metastatic tumors.<\/span><\/p>\n

Some common signs of metastatic cancer include:<\/span><\/p>\n

pain and fractures, when cancer has spread to the bone<\/span>
\nheadache, seizures, or dizziness, when cancer has spread to the brain<\/span>
\nshortness of breath, when cancer has spread to the lung<\/span>
\njaundice or swelling in the belly, when cancer has spread to the liver<\/span><\/p>\n

Treatment for Metastatic Cancer<\/span><\/p>\n

There are treatments for most types of metastatic cancer.<\/span><\/p>\n

Often, the goal of treating metastatic cancer is to control it by stopping or slowing its growth. Some people can live for years with metastatic cancer that is well controlled.<\/span><\/p>\n

Other treatments may improve the quality of life by relieving symptoms. This type of care is called palliative care. It can be given at any point during treatment for cancer.<\/span><\/p>\n

The treatment that you may have depends on your type of primary cancer, where it has spread, treatments you\u2019ve had in the past, and your general health.<\/span><\/p>\n

When Metastatic Cancer Can No Longer Be Controlled<\/span><\/p>\n

If you have been told your cancer can no longer be controlled, you and your loved ones may want to discuss end-of-life care.<\/span><\/p>\n

Whether or not you choose to continue treatment to shrink the cancer or control its growth, you can always receive palliative care to control the symptoms of cancer and the side effects of treatment.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ongoing Research<\/span><\/p>\n

Researchers are studying new ways to kill or stop the growth of primary and metastatic cancer cells.<\/span><\/p>\n

These ways include:<\/span><\/p>\n

helping your immune system fight cancer<\/span>
\ndisrupting the steps in the process that allow the cancer cells to spread<\/span>
\ntargeting specific genetic changes in tumors<\/span><\/p>\n