Metastatic disease is caused when a tumor or cancer spreads from one organ or area of the body to and nonadjacent organ or area. This movement is called metastasis and only malignant tumors or cancers and infections can metastasize.
Cancer cells break away from the originating or primary site and travel via the blood vessels and lymph nodes to another or a secondary site. When the new cells metastasize they are called the secondary site or metastatic tumor and they remain like the cells of origin. For example, if cancer spreads from the lungs to the pancreas it would not be pancreatic cancer but secondary or metastatic lung cancer.
As it is difficult for cancer cells to survive outside their area of origin, they have to find another area which is similar to the primary site in order to metastasize, therefore you’ll notice that cancer from certain organs and areas spread only to other specific organs or areas.
It is said that metastasis generally occurs at the same time as the primary tumor therefore, in some cases, doctors are unable to find or diagnose a primary site for the tumor but a secondary site is present. Such cases are referred to as unknown primary origin, but in some of these cases the primary site may be located later.
The aim of treating metastatic disease is to repress the metastasis, because it is not easily cured, so there’s the possibility of reoccurrence or remission, even after severe treatment. Several treatment options are available for treating metastatic disease. Your doctor may choose to treat the metastasis with chemo, radiation, hormone or biological therapy, radio surgery or a combination of these. The method of treatment used will depend on several variables ranging from the age of the patient to the progression of the metastasis.
Cancer cells break away from the originating or primary site and travel via the blood vessels and lymph nodes to another or a secondary site. When the new cells metastasize they are called the secondary site or metastatic tumor and they remain like the cells of origin. For example, if cancer spreads from the lungs to the pancreas it would not be pancreatic cancer but secondary or metastatic lung cancer.
As it is difficult for cancer cells to survive outside their area of origin, they have to find another area which is similar to the primary site in order to metastasize, therefore you’ll notice that cancer from certain organs and areas spread only to other specific organs or areas.
It is said that metastasis generally occurs at the same time as the primary tumor therefore, in some cases, doctors are unable to find or diagnose a primary site for the tumor but a secondary site is present. Such cases are referred to as unknown primary origin, but in some of these cases the primary site may be located later.
The aim of treating metastatic disease is to repress the metastasis, because it is not easily cured, so there’s the possibility of reoccurrence or remission, even after severe treatment. Several treatment options are available for treating metastatic disease. Your doctor may choose to treat the metastasis with chemo, radiation, hormone or biological therapy, radio surgery or a combination of these. The method of treatment used will depend on several variables ranging from the age of the patient to the progression of the metastasis.
