Metastasis
One of the biggest processes to determining what stage any type of cancer is in is whether or not the unhealthy cells have spread or 'metastasis' has occurred. Cancer cells have the ability to rapidly multiply and attack other organs other than the area where it began. Eventually, unhealthy cells form into the blood stream causing the cancer to move through other areas of the body. What doctors must remember when determining whether or not metastasis has occurred is what type of cancer it is, what stage the cancer it is and what the original location of the cancer was.
Metastasis has proven to be one of the most dangerous aspects of a person who has contracted a fatal form of cancer. When tissue becomes damaged and cell migration does not occur, it can result in lower immunity response, abnormal development and fatal diseases such as cancer. Once metastasis occurs, doctors have a more difficult time containing the cancer, treating the cancer and even removing the cancerous masses or tumors from the body. There is also higher risk of any type of surgery to be done so nothing ruptures within other areas of the body that the doctors do not realize is contaminated with cancerous cells. Often times when a tumor forms, some of the cancerous cells break off and travel to other parts of the body. That type of metastasis is the most common with cancer patients.
The organs that are most effected by the metastasis process are the lungs, bone, liver and even the brain. For example, if the original site of the cancer is in the lungs, it has a good chance of spreading to the brain or bones within the body. This does not mean that it cannot spread to other portions of the body as well, but doctors have seen most instances where lung tumors have spread to brain or bone mass. Tumors are not necessarily only found within tissues and typical parts of the body. What most people do not realize is tumors can be located within the lymph nodes and even blood. When checking for tumors or the process of metastasis, doctors must be very precise in their testing techniques.
Last modified: December 17 2007.
