![]() Many of these cells die, but some may settle in a new area and start to grow.Ĭancer cells must go through several steps to spread to new parts of the body: Once in the blood, they can go to any part of the body. ![]() More often, cancer cells that break off from the main tumor travel through the bloodstream. If the cells travel through the lymph system, they could end up in nearby lymph nodes (small, bean-sized collections of immune cells) or they could spread to other organs. (Lymph vessels are much like blood vessels, except they carry a clear fluid and immune system cells.) ![]() Metastatic cancer is a cancer that has spread from the part of the body where it started (the primary site) to other parts of the body. When cancer cells break away from a tumor, they can travel to other parts of the body through the bloodstream or the lymph system. These symptoms can almost always be managed with treatment, even when the cancer itself no longer responds to treatment. Some cancers, such as testicular cancer, can spread to other parts of the body and still be very curable.Īs advanced cancer grows, it can cause symptoms. Not all metastatic cancers are advanced cancers. Cancers that have spread are often thought of as advanced when they can’t be cured or controlled with treatment. Metastatic cancers have spread from where they started to other parts of the body. But other locally advanced cancers, such as some prostate cancers, may be cured. This can make them life-threatening even though they haven’t spread to other parts of the body. Locally advanced means that cancer has grown outside the body part it started in but has not yet spread to other parts of the body. For example, some cancers that start in the brain may be considered advanced because of their large size or closeness to important organs or blood vessels. For others, the cancer may not become advanced until years after it was first diagnosed.Īdvanced cancers can be locally advanced or metastatic. However, some types of advanced cancer can be controlled over a long period of time and are thought of as an ongoing (or chronic) illness.Įven if advanced cancer can’t be cured, treatment can sometimes:įor some people, the cancer may already be advanced when they first learn they have the disease. What is advanced cancer?Īdvanced cancer is most often used to describe cancers that cannot be cured. This means cancers that won’t totally go away and stay away completely with treatment. Be sure you understand what the doctor is talking about and what it means for you. Some may use the term to describe metastatic cancer, while others might use it in other situations. If you or a loved one is told that you have advanced cancer, it’s very important to find out exactly what the doctor means.
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