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.
Surgical excision is usually the treatment of choice for isolated cancers whose margins can be defined. However, for tumours present in multiple places, it is impractical to go about excising each and every one of them. In fact, some of them may be missed in the process. The treatment of choice for metastatic tumors is chemotherapy which uses drugs to limit further growth.
Unfortunately, chemotherapy comes with its own adverse effects. This is because in the process of killing unwanted cells, the drugs end up destroying the normal cells too. Patients may lose their hair in the course of treatment not to mention nausea and vomiting. A strong support system is very crucial in the prolonged survival of cancer victims.
Taking the above into account, research studies grapple with the challenge of producing an agent that will only act on the abnormal cells. One study has come very close to achieving this goal. In this study, the most immediate cells surrounding the metastatic lesion are injected with a special chemical agent whose purpose is to influence the size of the 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 research studies focus on genetic mutation of cancer cells as they grow and their response to treatment. In these studies, the core of the cell, also known as DNA is extracted from the normal and abnormal cell. Their characteristics are then evaluated in a special laboratory. This is done for different cancers and it can help identify which ones are inherited and which are not. By so doing, the results obtained help the future generation to be better prepared in terms of early detection through screening.
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.
Surgical excision is usually the treatment of choice for isolated cancers whose margins can be defined. However, for tumours present in multiple places, it is impractical to go about excising each and every one of them. In fact, some of them may be missed in the process. The treatment of choice for metastatic tumors is chemotherapy which uses drugs to limit further growth.
Unfortunately, chemotherapy comes with its own adverse effects. This is because in the process of killing unwanted cells, the drugs end up destroying the normal cells too. Patients may lose their hair in the course of treatment not to mention nausea and vomiting. A strong support system is very crucial in the prolonged survival of cancer victims.
Taking the above into account, research studies grapple with the challenge of producing an agent that will only act on the abnormal cells. One study has come very close to achieving this goal. In this study, the most immediate cells surrounding the metastatic lesion are injected with a special chemical agent whose purpose is to influence the size of the 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 research studies focus on genetic mutation of cancer cells as they grow and their response to treatment. In these studies, the core of the cell, also known as DNA is extracted from the normal and abnormal cell. Their characteristics are then evaluated in a special laboratory. This is done for different cancers and it can help identify which ones are inherited and which are not. By so doing, the results obtained help the future generation to be better prepared in terms of early detection through screening.
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