A cancer is said to have metastasized once it expands its growth to other tissues and organs in the body as a whole. It is a scare to patients because of the difficulty in controlling it once it leaves the primary site. With the intense cancer metastasis research going on in different laboratories globally, cancer management and outcomes are likely to improve a great deal.
Tumors spread in a number of ways once they have been established in the body. Among these methods is direct invasion to neighboring structures. The tumor can also use blood as a medium to be transported to other organs in the body. Common sites of metastasis include bones, the lungs the brain and the liver. Lymph nodes can also be used by the abnormal cells as a means of spread through lymphatic fluid. In most instances, tumors are said to be at stage four once they grow beyond the primary (original) site.
Symptoms to suggest that a tumor has metastasized depend on where the cancer spreads to. Lung metastasis can be suspected if the patient complains of cough, shortness of breath or blood in their sputum. Liver involvement is suggested by yellowness of the skin and eyes. If the brain is involved, the patient may complain of dizziness and headaches. It should, however, be noted that these are very nonspecific symptoms that could indicate diseases other than a tumor.
While it is much easier to treat tumor cells limited to one spot, it is almost impossible to completely get rid of those that have set camp in multiple areas in the body. The surgeon cannot go about excising every swelling they find on and in the body as these can cause deformity and can also compromise functionality. The mainstay of treatment in metastatic cancer is chemotherapy and radiotherapy. The goal is mainly to stop the cells from multiplying further.
The unfortunate thing about chemotherapy is its inability to distinguish the normal cells from the cancerous ones. This explains why patients on chemotherapeutic agents experience tremendous hair loss and often look sicker. The importance of concurrent psychological care can therefore not be overemphasized.
Because of the lack of selectivity with chemotherapy drugs available in the market today, research scientists world over are faced with the task of coming up with treatment regimens that will only target the neoplastic cells in the body. A positive response has already been demonstrated among mice that were injected with an experimental formulation.This narrows down its action to the unique environment surrounding the metastatic lesion.
The metastatic tumour present in the mice was able to shrink to almost undetectable levels. Clinical trials are going on and once the drugs are approved, they will help a great number of people struggling with metastatic disease.
Some tumors are known to be familial while those that are not inherited are still a mystery. Both undergo certain genetic mutations that make them behave the way they do. Scientific research has taken time to study the DNA of abnormal cells in comparison to the normal human DNA. The ultimate goal is to help in disease prevention and early management of such diseases in the next generation.
Tumors spread in a number of ways once they have been established in the body. Among these methods is direct invasion to neighboring structures. The tumor can also use blood as a medium to be transported to other organs in the body. Common sites of metastasis include bones, the lungs the brain and the liver. Lymph nodes can also be used by the abnormal cells as a means of spread through lymphatic fluid. In most instances, tumors are said to be at stage four once they grow beyond the primary (original) site.
Symptoms to suggest that a tumor has metastasized depend on where the cancer spreads to. Lung metastasis can be suspected if the patient complains of cough, shortness of breath or blood in their sputum. Liver involvement is suggested by yellowness of the skin and eyes. If the brain is involved, the patient may complain of dizziness and headaches. It should, however, be noted that these are very nonspecific symptoms that could indicate diseases other than a tumor.
While it is much easier to treat tumor cells limited to one spot, it is almost impossible to completely get rid of those that have set camp in multiple areas in the body. The surgeon cannot go about excising every swelling they find on and in the body as these can cause deformity and can also compromise functionality. The mainstay of treatment in metastatic cancer is chemotherapy and radiotherapy. The goal is mainly to stop the cells from multiplying further.
The unfortunate thing about chemotherapy is its inability to distinguish the normal cells from the cancerous ones. This explains why patients on chemotherapeutic agents experience tremendous hair loss and often look sicker. The importance of concurrent psychological care can therefore not be overemphasized.
Because of the lack of selectivity with chemotherapy drugs available in the market today, research scientists world over are faced with the task of coming up with treatment regimens that will only target the neoplastic cells in the body. A positive response has already been demonstrated among mice that were injected with an experimental formulation.This narrows down its action to the unique environment surrounding the metastatic lesion.
The metastatic tumour present in the mice was able to shrink to almost undetectable levels. Clinical trials are going on and once the drugs are approved, they will help a great number of people struggling with metastatic disease.
Some tumors are known to be familial while those that are not inherited are still a mystery. Both undergo certain genetic mutations that make them behave the way they do. Scientific research has taken time to study the DNA of abnormal cells in comparison to the normal human DNA. The ultimate goal is to help in disease prevention and early management of such diseases in the next generation.
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