There are many tumors that can be removed with surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy or other treatments. However, once cancer spreads to other parts of the body and metastasizes, it is more difficult to stop.
But what is metastatic cancer?
Metastatic cancer is when tumor cells break away from the tumor of origin, spread to the bloodstream, lymphatic vessels or another part of the body and create new tumors.
The most common site for metastatic cancer is nearby lymph nodes, although tumor cells also often spread to the brain, liver, lungs and bones. On the other hand, there are some types of cancer that are more likely to spread to certain organs. Melanoma, for example, which is the most dangerous type of skin cancer, tends to spread to the lungs and brain. Prostate cancer, on the other hand, spreads to the bones.
Even once cancer has invaded another organ, it will still be known by the site where it initially developed. Thus, a colon cancer that has spread to the liver will not be the same as a primary liver cancer. It will be known as liver metastasis or secondary liver cancer. Likewise, a breast cancer that spreads to the lungs will be treated as breast cancer and not lung cancer. If the original tumor in the breast responds to hormonal drugs it is very likely that metastatic lung tumors will also.
What are the symptoms of metastatic cancer?
The symptoms of metastatic cancer vary depending on the type of cancer and where it has spread. In cancer that has spread to the brain, symptoms usually include headache, seizures and vision problems. In cancer that has spread to the liver, patients usually have jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes), fatigue, loss of weight or appetite, and swelling in the legs.
In some cases the cancer may spread after the person has already been treated for the original tumor. Metastatic tumors are a type of cancer that can appear months or even years after the initial treatments. In other cases patients may not realize they have cancer until they notice symptoms depending on the location of the metastasis.
Is it possible to treat metastatic cancer?
The treatability of metastatic cancer depends on its primary source and the areas where it has spread. Chemotherapy and radiation therapy are used to shrink the tumor.
Are targeted therapies or immunotherapy valid for metastasis?
To know if a targeted therapy can be effective, it is necessary to find out if there are genetic mutations related to the cancer suffered by the patient. There are methods to test for these, and the aim is to find specific mutations in tumors that can be treated with targeted drugs. Immunotherapy options are also available for certain tumors. This is a medication designed to boost the body’s immune response to help it eliminate cancer cells.
Can metastatic cancer be cured?
As research into new treatments progresses, there is a greater likelihood of cure for certain cancers, such as colon cancer and melanoma. However, the treatment of metastatic cancer is usually palliative: it reduces the symptoms and improves the patient’s quality of life, but it cannot eliminate the cancer completely. In many patients, palliative treatments make it possible to keep the disease under control for many years. Thus, there are drugs that allow tumors to be contained for a long time (even turning cancer into a chronic disease) if the patient is constant in taking them, but resistance may develop at some point.
Can metastatic cancer be prevented?
To date, there are no methods to prevent the cancer from spreading. The best way to prevent it from spreading is to remove the primary tumors while they are still small, before they can migrate to other parts of the body. This is why cancer screening is so important. However, even if cancer is detected early and removed, there may still be cancer cells already spreading in the blood or lymph vessels.