The term "cancer" is used when a tumor is malignant, which is to say it has the potential to cause harm, including death. Tumors can be benign noncancerous or malignant cancerous.
Benign tumors tend to grow slowly and do not spread. Malignant tumors can grow rapidly, invade and destroy nearby normal tissues, and spread throughout the body. The original tumor is called the " primary tumor. These new tumors are referred to as " secondary tumors. The cancerous cells travel through the blood circulatory system or lymphatic system to form secondary tumors. The lymphatic system is a series of small vessels that collect waste from cells, carrying it into larger vessels, and finally into lymph nodes.
Lymph fluid eventually drains into the bloodstream. The Stanford Medicine Online Second Opinion program offers you easy access to our world-class doctors. Visit our online second opinion page to learn more. Clinical trials are research studies that evaluate a new medical approach, device, drug, or other treatment. As a Stanford Health Care patient, you may have access to the latest, advanced clinical trials. Open trials refer to studies currently accepting participants. Closed trials are not currently enrolling, but may open in the future.
Cancer What is cancer? Cancer is overly prolific, abnormal cell growth. National Cancer Act 50th Anniversary Commemoration. Resources for News Media. Media Contacts. Cancer Reporting Fellowships.
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Recent Public Laws. Search Search. Cancer Information Summaries. Adult Treatment. Pediatric Treatment. Cancer Screening. Cancer Prevention. Cancer Genetics. Integrative Therapies. Adult Treatment Editorial Board. Pediatric Treatment Editorial Board. Cancer Genetics Editorial Board. Integrative Therapies Editorial Board. Levels of Evidence: Treatment. Levels of Evidence: Cancer Genetics. Typically, metastatic cancer requires systemic therapy, or medications given by mouth or injected into the bloodstream to reach cancer cells throughout the body, such as chemotherapy or hormone therapy.
Other treatments may include immunotherapy , radiation therapy , surgery , or a combination of these. Before undergoing treatment for metastatic cancer, consider asking your doctor about enrolling in a clinical trial. Current treatments and new treatments for cancer are constantly being studied in clinical trials. Clinical trials offer access to novel treatments that may end up being more appropriate than the current standard-of-care options.
Your care team can help you think about whether a clinical trial is right for you. Even if metastatic cancer has stopped responding to treatment, many therapies may help ease side effects and improve quality of life. Palliative treatments, which may be the same treatments used to treat cancer, aim to relieve symptoms and side effects. We offer comprehensive treatment programs for cancers that have spread to the brain , bone , liver and other areas. Having metastatic cancer may mean many different things depending on the type of cancer and other personal factors.
In any case, it can be difficult to cope with. You should ask questions and voice your concerns in order to gain a full understanding of your diagnosis and what it means. Some patients live with metastatic cancer for a long time and have a high quality of life by receiving palliative care.
Support can come in many forms, including loved ones, support groups, a counselor or psychologist or your care team. Make a difference in the fight against cancer by donating to cancer research. Call us anytime. This page was updated on November 9, Diagnosing metastatic cancer Cancer that has spread from the primary, or original, site to other places in the body is generally classified as advanced cancer.
Once in the blood, they can go to any part of the body. Many of these cells die, but some may settle in a new area and start to grow. Treatment is also based on where the cancer started.
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