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Metastasis

This process refers to the spread of cancer from its original site to other areas in the body. Cancer cells have the ability to invade the blood vessels and find their way into the bloodstream. Once in the blood, cancer cells can go to virtually any part of the body and make a home for themselves. Each cancer has a particular way of spreading.

Signs and Symptoms:

Early metastatic disease may have no signs at all. The more advanced a cancer, the more signs the patient will demonstrate. Some patients present with problems that are due to metastatic disease such as:

• Cough, shortness of breath due to Lung metastasis

• Abdominal pain, jaundice due to Liver metastasis

• Confusion, seizure, coma due to Brain metastasis

• Pain due to Bone Metastasis

Treatment:

Each situation must be evaluated individually and very carefully. An effort should be made to determine the extent of every cancer and the potential sites of metastasis must be studied. Depending on certain circumstances, treatment of metastatic disease may be accomplished by Surgery, Radiation or Chemotherapy. Symptoms of metastatic disease must be treated, along with treating the underlying cancer.