Metastasis

Metastasis
CT scan with metastatic tumour in lung (upper left lobe, seen on the right side of picture)
DiseasesDB	28954
MedlinePlus	002260

Metastasis Microchapters
Home
Patient Information
Overview
Historical Perspective
Classification
Pathophysiology
Causes
Differentiating Metastasis from other Diseases
Epidemiology and Demographics
Risk Factors
Screening
Natural History, Complications and Prognosis
Diagnosis
History and Symptoms
Physical Examination
Laboratory Findings
Chest X Ray
CT
MRI
Echocardiography or Ultrasound
Other Imaging Findings
Other Diagnostic Studies
Treatment
Medical Therapy
Surgery
Primary Prevention
Secondary Prevention
Cost-Effectiveness of Therapy
Future or Investigational Therapies
Case Studies
Case #1
Metastasis On the Web
Most recent articles
Most cited articles
Review articles
CME Programs
Powerpoint slides
Images
American Roentgen Ray Society Images of Metastasis All Images X-rays Echo & Ultrasound CT Images MRI
Ongoing Trials at Clinical Trials.gov
US National Guidelines Clearinghouse
NICE Guidance
FDA on Metastasis
CDC on Metastasis
Metastasis in the news
Blogs on Metastasis
Directions to Hospitals Treating Metastasis
Risk calculators and risk factors for Metastasis

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]

Synonyms and keywords: Metastatic neoplasm; secondary tumor; disseminated cancer; metastases

Overview

Pulmonary metastases

Patient#2

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Treatments for metastatic cancer

Whether or not a cancer is local or has spread to other locations affects treatment and survival. If the cancer spreads to other tissues and organs, it may decrease a patient's likelihood of survival. However, there are some cancers (i.e., leukemia, brain) that can kill without spreading at all.

When cancer has metastasized, it may be treated with radiosurgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, biological therapy, hormone therapy, surgery or a combination of these. The choice of treatment generally depends on the type of primary cancer, the size and location of the metastasis, the patient's age and general health, and the types of treatments used previously. In patients diagnosed with CUP, it is still possible to treat the disease even when the primary tumor cannot be located.

The treatment options currently available are rarely able to cure metastatic cancer, though some tumors, such as testicular cancer, are usually still curable.

Related chapters

• Disseminated disease

Resources

Medical information about metastatic cancer

• Q&A: Metastatic Cancer – from the National Cancer Institute
• Invasion and Metastases – from Cancer Medicine e.5
• How Cancer Grows and Spreads – an interactive Flash presentation that explores the progression of a carcinoma from a single cell to metastasis; from the research department of Children's Hospital Boston
• Metastasis photo at the Atlas of Pathology website

Charities and advocacy groups dealing with metastatic cancer

• The MetaCancer Foundation – resources and support for metastatic cancer survivors and their caregivers
• Metastatic Breast Cancer Network
• Children's Cancer Research Charity for Metastatic Cancer in Kids

Not specifically about metastatic cancer

• Understanding Cancer Types and Staging – a patients' guide at the CancerGuide website
• Cancer Forums – physicians answering questions about cancer

References

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