By Timothy Stevens


Cancer is a scary diagnosis. When patients hear the bad news that the disease is spreading, or metastasizing, most understand their time may be limited. Researchers know a lot about what cancerous cells can do, and they are learning more every day. Cancer metastasis research has a long way to go though. Discovering how to contain the cells and destroy them before they can move is still in the future.

The fact that cancers can spread is what makes them so dangerous. They can move in all directions, locally, regionally, and to body parts that are a distance away from the original location by traveling through the blood and lymph nodes. At this point they become stage four. When cancers move they aren't renamed for the part of the body they move to. Breast cancer remains breast cancer even when if it has spread to the lungs.

There are different ways for cancerous cells to spread. They can attach onto or attack healthy tissue located nearby. Cells use the bloodstream to travel to various parts of one's body. They can choose to stop in blood vessels and invade the walls. Tumors can develop once they do this because the cells have the ability to create new blood vessels, which in turn creates a source of blood that feeds the new tumor.

Cancerous cells can spread anywhere, but researchers have discovered that certain cancers are more likely to travel to certain areas than others. They most commonly spread to the bones, the lungs, and the liver. Breast cancers for instance commonly spread to the lungs, brain, and liver. Melanoma may spread to the skin, muscles, brain, bones, lungs, and liver. Kidney cancers can attack the adrenal glands.

There are physical signs that cancerous cells have metastasized. When they have traveled to the lungs, patients often experience shortness of breath. Cancerous cells in the bones increase the chances that bones will fracture. Cells that have spread to the brain can cause seizures, headaches, and dizziness.

Controlling metastasized cells is difficult. Treatments will vary depending on the overall health of the patient, the kind of primary cancer, and what prior treatments the patient has received. The best case scenario is that the cell movement will be stopped and the growth of new cells retarded. Relieving the discomfort of symptoms is a paramount concern. If the treatments are successful, they may prolong the life of a patient.

At some point a patient may be told that the cancerous cells can not be controlled. Someone given this information has several options. They can decide to continue receiving treatment in the hope the tumors will shrink or be contained. Patients can opt for palliative care that relieves symptoms and side effects.

Metastasized cancers aren't easy diagnoses to deliver or to hear. End of life decisions have to be made with this kind of news. Nobody knows what the future holds. If you find yourself in this situation, every day will become an unexpected gift.




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