Can metastatic disease be cured?
In some situations, metastatic cancer can be cured, but most commonly, treatment does not cure the cancer. But doctors can treat it to slow its growth and reduce symptoms. It is possible to live for many months or years with certain types of cancer, even after the development of metastatic disease.
How do you test for metastatic disease?
There is no one test to check for metastasis. Various tests will reveal different things. The tests that are done are determined by the type of primary cancer and/or any symptoms that need to be investigated. Routine blood tests such as liver enzymes may be elevated in the presence of liver metastasis.
What is the treatment for metastatic disease?
Typically, metastatic cancer requires systemic therapy, or medications given by mouth or injected into the bloodstream to reach cancer cells throughout the body, such as chemotherapy or hormone therapy. Other treatments may include immunotherapy, radiation therapy, surgery, or a combination of these.
What is metastatic disease?
Metastatic cancer is a cancer that has spread from the part of the body where it started (the primary site) to other parts of the body. When cancer cells break away from a tumor, they can travel to other parts of the body through the bloodstream or the lymph system.
What is the most common site of metastasis?
Where does cancer spread?
| Cancer Type | Most Common Site of Metastasis |
|---|---|
| Breast | Bone, brain, liver, lung |
| Colorectal | Liver, lung, peritoneum (abdominal cavity) |
| Kidney | Adrenal gland, bone, brain, liver, lung |
| Lung | Adrenal gland, bone, brain, liver, opposite lung |
How can you prevent metastasis?
Another strategy to prevent metastasis is by blocking the development of pre-metastatic niches or targeting the cells and molecules that help disseminated tumor cells survive and grow.
Which cancers are the most metastatic?
Bones, lungs, and the liver are the most common places for cancer cells to spread, or “metastasize.”