When cancer cells break away from a tumor, they can travel through the bloodstream or lymph system. They may settle in other organs or tissues and grow there, forming new tumors. This is called metastasis.
Usually, when cancer spreads to other areas of the body, it’s treated based on where it started. But it can be difficult to know how to treat metastatic cancer.
Cancer cells can spread from the place where they first formed (the primary tumor) to other parts of the body. This is called metastasis. Most commonly, the cancer spreads to bones, lungs and liver. But it can also spread to the brain, adrenal gland and lymph nodes. When cancer has spread to more than one part of the body, it’s called stage IV metastatic cancer. Almost any type of cancer can metastasize, but metastatic breast cancer and lung cancer are more common.
Sometimes doctors can’t tell where the cancer started in the body. But they can usually name the new area where it’s found based on what type of cancer it is, such as lung cancer or breast cancer. If the cancer can’t be named, it’s called cancer of unknown primary origin or CUP.
Symptoms vary depending on where the cancer has spread. They can include a new lump or nodule in the skin, pain in the bones or abdomen (belly), and difficulty breathing. Some people don’t have any symptoms at all.
If a cancer spreads to the bones, it can cause a broken bone or a painful fracture. It can also cause a buildup of calcium in the blood, which is called hypercalcemia. Other signs of bone metastasis are weakness in the arms and legs, back pain and problems controlling when you pee (urinary incontinence).
A tumor can also grow in the brain. This can lead to headaches or seizures. It can also affect your vision and hearing, and can cause trouble thinking and concentrating. Cancer that has spread to the lungs can cause trouble breathing, coughing or a feeling of pressure on your chest. If it has spread to the liver, you may develop jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes).
Metastatic cancer can be a life-threatening disease. But it’s important to remember that not all metastasis is bad. Even if cancer has spread, it can still be curable.
Cancer cells can break away from the original tumor and travel through the bloodstream or lymph system to other parts of the body. When they settle there, they can form new tumors. This is called metastasis. Cancer that has spread to distant organs is often referred to as metastatic cancer, although doctors also use the term advanced cancer to describe any type of cancer that cannot be cured.
Doctors aren’t sure why some cancer cells travel while others stay put. Regardless, it’s important to get treatment for any cancer that has spread because it can be hard to control once it has metastasized.
When a person is diagnosed with metastatic cancer, the first thing they should do is see a specialist in that particular type of cancer. This person can often provide helpful information about how the cancer has spread and help guide treatment options.
Many types of cancers can spread to other parts of the body, including the bones, lungs, liver and brain. Breast, prostate, melanoma and lung cancer all have the potential to spread to nearby tissues or lymph nodes. When this happens, it’s called regional metastasis. Melanoma and lung cancer are also more likely to spread to the brain, which is referred to as distant metastasis.
Doctors can diagnose metastatic cancer through physical examination, blood tests and imaging exams such as CT scans, MRIs and PET scans. A biopsy of the cancer is usually needed to confirm the diagnosis and determine the type of cancer.
Some people with metastatic cancer don’t have any symptoms at all, and they may be diagnosed through a routine exam or because of abnormal blood work. Other times, a patient may have symptoms such as pain or a lump in the skin that are not related to any other health issue and are therefore considered suspicious.
There are some types of blood cancers that can’t be spread to other parts of the body, but most cancers that have spread do affect other organs in the body in some way. When a person is diagnosed with metastatic or advanced cancer, they can often receive long-term treatment that will control the disease and prevent it from getting worse.
Cancer that has spread from its original site to other parts of the body is called metastatic cancer. It can’t be cured, but ongoing treatment can slow the growth of tumors, shrink them, relieve symptoms and extend life. Some of the treatments that doctors use to treat metastatic cancer include surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation.
Cancer cells that break away from a primary tumor can travel through the blood or lymph system to reach other organs and tissues in the body. Once there, the cancer cells can grow into tumors of their own and continue spreading. The new tumors are also considered metastatic cancer. Cancer that has metastasized to other parts of the body is often referred to as stage 4 cancer or advanced cancer.
If a patient has metastatic cancer that isn’t curable, he or she may be referred to palliative care, which focuses on comfort and symptom control rather than treating the cancer itself. This might include specialized pain management, drug therapy to control nausea and vomiting, emotional support from trained professionals, and other non-medical therapies.
Some doctors may also refer patients to complementary or alternative therapies, which are not actually treatments but are instead practices such as yoga, meditation, acupuncture and more that focus on a person’s overall physical and mental health and well-being. For more information on these types of therapies, visit our Complementary Therapies page.
The treatment options for a particular metastatic cancer depend on how far the disease has spread, what type of cancer it is, and where it has spread to. Generally, the closer a metastatic tumor is to its source, the easier it is to remove surgically or kill with radiation.
People with metastatic cancer may also consider taking part in a clinical trial of a new treatment for their specific disease. Because so many current cancer treatments are continually being studied, it’s important for people with metastatic cancer to speak with their doctors about the possibility of participating in a trial.
Cancer cells that spread to distant parts of the body are called metastatic tumors. They may form new tumors that grow into the tissues around them, or they can travel through the bloodstream to other areas of the body, such as bones. Usually, the cells that cause metastasis are not removed by surgery or radiation, because the primary cancer is already so advanced that it is no longer possible to remove. The most common causes of metastasis are lung, breast, liver and pancreatic cancer.
Most metastatic cancers cannot be cured, but ongoing treatments can keep the disease from growing and help patients live for many years. The prognosis is different for each patient and depends on the type of cancer, where it spread and how it was treated.
The treatment of metastatic cancer is more likely to be systemic than localized, and patients are often treated with multiple drugs that target various molecular pathways in the tumor. These are sometimes called “targeted therapies.” Often, these treatments also affect other healthy cells, which can result in side effects like fatigue, hair loss and gastrointestinal issues.
Some people do not experience any symptoms, so it is difficult to know if the cancer has spread until they have blood tests done that indicate an unusual level of enzymes. Symptoms that can occur include bloating, a feeling of being full quickly or not being able to eat (common in liver metastases), bone pain or fractures, dizziness, headaches and seizures (common in brain metastases), and shortness of breath (common in lung metastases).
It’s important for cancer patients to remember that just because their cancer has spread, it does not mean they will die from the disease. In fact, the majority of patients who die from metastatic cancer do not die of the diagnosed disease; they are killed by other complications like heart disease, respiratory and circulatory problems, brain or liver damage, and infections.
When metastatic cancer spreads to the bones, it is most commonly found in the spine and ribs, but can be found in the pelvis, hips and feet as well. Cancer that spreads to the bones can be caused by carcinomas of the lung, breast and prostate, as well as sarcomas of the kidney, Ewing’s sarcoma/PNET of the bone and osteosarcoma.
If you have cancer that has spread, you’ll probably have many symptoms. They can include pain, changes in how you urinate or defecate and numbness or weakness in your arms or legs.
When metastatic cancer spreads to other parts of the body, it’s still named after the original site. So if it goes to the liver or lungs, it’s treated as that type of cancer.
When cancer spreads to another part of the body, it may create new tumors, or metastases. These may be very small or large, depending on the area where the cancer spreads. Metastatic cancer is not curable, but a lot of patients can manage symptoms for months or even years with the right treatment.
Blood tests can help doctors determine whether cancer has spread to other parts of the body, or if it’s a new type of cancer. These tests can also provide information about how a cancer might respond to treatments.
The most common blood test to check for cancer is a complete blood count (CBC). This test measures different components of the blood, including red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets. It also measures the levels of certain proteins that are used to fight infection, such as beta globulin and a type of white blood cell called neutrophils. This test is usually done in a doctor’s office, clinic or lab.
Other tests can look for pieces of DNA from cancer cells that have broken apart and made their way into the bloodstream. These tests, called chromosomal instability analysis and cell-free DNA sequencing, can give your health care provider a more precise picture of how the cancer is growing in your body and what the best treatment options might be.
Researchers are working on new types of blood tests that can detect cancer before it shows any symptoms. Some of these tests target specific cancers, like Grail’s Galleri test for colorectal cancer, while others use machine learning to screen for several cancers, such as Exact Sciences’ Cancerguard and Guardant Health’s Shield test.
Another blood test, called EnhanceAR-Seq, looks for changes in the genetic code of cancer cells in the bloodstream. This “liquid biopsy” is a less invasive alternative to a biopsy of the actual tumor. During this test, your health care team will draw a sample of your blood and send it to a lab for analysis. Some blood tests take a few days to return, but other tests can take several weeks to complete. Ask the phlebotomist, doctor or nurse when you can expect to receive your results.
Cancer that spreads to other parts of the body is often diagnosed using imaging tests, including CT scans and MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging). These tests can give doctors detailed images of the brain, bones and other organs. They can also detect the size and location of a metastasis.
In some cases, these images can help doctors decide which treatment to recommend. But interpreting these images can be difficult and complex, especially for people who aren’t familiar with medical terminology. For this reason, it’s important to talk with your doctor about what the results mean for you.
If you have metastatic breast cancer, you’ll probably be given a series of imaging tests to determine the extent of your disease and how it’s spreading. These tests may include CT scans, MRI, PET scans and ultrasounds.
A CT scan is a type of imaging test that uses X-rays to create images of your organs and tissues. CT scans can detect the size and location of a tumor, whether or not it has spread. They can also reveal areas of tissue that may be thickened or enlarged because of cancer growth.
Magnetic resonance imaging, or MRI, is an imaging test that uses magnetic fields and radio waves to produce detailed images of your organs and tissues. It’s particularly useful for detecting metastatic disease in soft tissue and the brain because it can identify differences in density between normal and cancerous tissue. It can also detect a tumor’s shape and location and help your doctor decide which treatment to recommend.
If a cancer has spread to other parts of the body, it’s called advanced cancer. It can’t be cured, but modern treatments have helped people with metastatic cancer live for years.
Metastatic cancer can recur in the same place where it first developed or somewhere else. If it recurs in the same place, it’s called a local recurrence. But if a cancer recurrences in a different part of the body, it’s called a distant recurrence.
If you have metastatic breast cancer, you may experience symptoms that affect your daily life, such as pain, fatigue and nausea. But there are ways to manage these symptoms, such as with medication, lifestyle changes and support services like counseling.
A biopsy is a procedure that removes tissue from your body to examine it under a microscope. The goal is to find out whether an abnormal area or lump is cancerous or not. Your doctor might recommend a biopsy if they feel an unusual bump during a physical exam or when imaging tests show an abnormal area.
Some biopsies can be done by a doctor in their office. For others, you will need to go to a hospital or clinic. During the biopsy, your doctor will make a small nick in the skin. Then they will insert a needle into the abnormal area to get a sample of cells. They may need to take several samples. Depending on where the biopsy is, you may be given a numbing medication or sedation before the procedure.
The sample is sent to a lab to be examined under a microscope. This will help your doctor know if the abnormal area is cancerous and what type of cancer it is. It will also give them information about how quickly the cancer is likely to grow and spread.
Once your biopsy results are available, your doctor will use them to plan your treatment. If your cancer has spread to the brain, your treatment might include chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or a procedure called gamma knife surgery. If your cancer has spread to the lungs, your doctor might recommend a procedure called thoracentesis to drain fluid from around your lungs. If your cancer has spread to the liver, your doctor might recommend a treatment called radiofrequency ablation.
After receiving a diagnosis of metastatic cancer, it is normal to experience many complicated emotions. Talking with a friend or family member can help you process these feelings. You may also want to consider joining a support group for people with advanced cancer. Many people with metastatic cancer live with the condition for a long time. They can often manage their symptoms and improve their quality of life with treatments like radiation, surgery, chemotherapy, and hormone therapy.
Some types of metastatic cancer cannot be cured. This is called incurable cancer or advanced cancer. Despite this, most people with advanced cancer can receive treatments to control their symptoms and live longer.
Cancer cells can spread to other parts of the body when they grow large enough to push into surrounding tissue or break apart and enter the bloodstream, lymph vessels or nearby lymph nodes. From there, they can travel just about anywhere in the body. Blood cancers like leukemia, lymphoma and multiple myeloma can also spread to other parts of the body by growing directly into them.
Most metastatic cancers are not curable. However, treatment can help to reduce symptoms and extend life. The type of treatment depends on the location of the metastasis and where the cancer started. For example, if breast cancer spreads to the liver, doctors will treat it in the same way as they would breast cancer that hasn’t spread. This is because the cancer cells themselves haven’t changed — they’re just in a different place.
The most common symptoms of bone metastasis are pain, which may come and go at first. Sometimes the pain will get worse when you move. Bone pain can also lead to fractures. If the cancer is spreading to your lungs, you may notice a cough that doesn’t go away or shortness of breath. If the cancer is in your liver, you may have jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes).
Some people have metastatic tumors at the time they’re diagnosed with their original cancer. In other cases, the tumors are found during routine follow-up visits with their healthcare provider. If your doctor discovers metastatic tumors, they may refer you to a specialist or try to manage the symptoms using palliative treatments, which are meant to ease pain and discomfort and improve quality of life.
If you’re living with metastatic cancer, you may be able to participate in clinical trials that are testing new cancer treatments. Ask your doctor about these opportunities. You can also get support from a cancer support group. There are many different types of support groups, and talking to others who are experiencing the same thing can be helpful. These groups are often open to family members and friends as well.
Today, treatment options for metastatic cancer vary based on where the tumors started and how far they spread. Your doctor will recommend a course of treatment that reduces symptoms and slows or stops the growth of new tumors.
You might take chemotherapy medicines by mouth or through an IV. They target specific proteins that help cancer cells grow.
Cancer can spread to other parts of the body when it grows too large to remain in one location or if it breaks apart and cells escape from a tumor. The cells can enter the bloodstream or lymphatic system and travel to distant organs. Cancer that has spread in this way is called metastatic cancer or stage 4 cancer.
Almost any type of cancer can spread in this way. But certain cancers are more likely to metastasize than others. These include cancers of the lungs, liver, bones and brain. Cancer cells can also spread to nearby tissues or lymph nodes. If the cancer spreads to a nearby organ or body part, it’s known as regional metastasis. If the cancer travels to other parts of the world, it’s known as distant or widespread metastasis.
If cancer has spread, you might have symptoms such as pain, loss of appetite, weakness and tiredness, or breathing difficulties. Your doctor will examine you and may order imaging scans or blood tests to check for the presence of cancer cells.
It’s important to let your doctor or nurse know about any new symptoms. This will help them decide what kind of treatment is best for you. You should also talk to your doctor or nurse about complementary therapies, such as massage, meditation and herbal remedies, which can help relieve side-effects.
If a tumor is causing serious symptoms or there’s a risk of a serious complication, your doctor may suggest surgery. They might also recommend a procedure that freezes the tumor or drugs that prevent bone fractures and ease bone pain. These drugs interfere with the production of bone cells.
Many people with metastatic cancer find they are more comfortable with palliative care, which is the kind of support that focuses on helping you manage symptoms and maintain a good quality of life. You can receive this care at home or in a clinic that specializes in this type of treatment.
If a tumor has spread to the lung, you might experience coughing, fatigue or difficulty breathing. You might also have nausea, vomiting or a yellowing of the skin and eyes (jaundice). If cancer has spread to your brain, you might feel confused, have trouble thinking clearly, or have headaches or seizures.
Cancer cells can travel to distant parts of the body through the bloodstream or lymph system. Once they reach other organs or tissue, they can grow and develop new tumors. Cancer that spreads to other tissues or organs is called metastatic cancer. Sometimes, metastatic cancer grows so slowly that it doesn’t cause any symptoms. If it does cause symptoms, they may include weight loss, difficulty breathing, weakness and changes in bowel habits.
The doctors who treat people with metastatic cancer have different treatment plans than those who treat people with localized cancer that hasn’t spread. They might do some tests to find out where the cancer has spread and what type of cancer it is. These tests might include blood and urine tests, CT scans, MRIs, ultrasound and biopsy.
It isn’t clear why some cancer cells break away from their original location and travel to other parts of the body. It is also not known why some of these traveling cancer cells grow and form new tumors, while others don’t.
Once a person has metastatic cancer, it usually isn’t possible to cure it completely. However, ongoing treatments can help keep the cancer under control, shrink tumors and ease symptoms.
When a person has metastatic cancer, the medical team might refer them to palliative care specialists. These specialists can help manage the side effects of treatment and provide emotional support.
It’s important for people with metastatic cancer to see their healthcare providers often and follow their treatment plans carefully. Having an active partnership with your healthcare provider can improve your quality of life and help you feel better for as long as possible. Your doctor might suggest you join a support group for people with cancer or other health conditions that can help you cope with your situation. There are also many resources available for people with metastatic cancer and their families. For example, you might be able to find financial support, housing assistance or transportation options. You might also be able to get help with everyday activities such as cooking, cleaning and laundry.
Cancer cells can spread in one of three ways: they can break off from the original tumor and travel through tissue to form new tumors in other parts of the body; they can enter the bloodstream or lymph vessels and travel to other organs in the body; or they can come back to the site of the original cancer and grow again. Metastatic cancer is cancer that has spread from the site of the primary tumor to other tissues or organs in the body.
A metastatic cancer diagnosis can be scary. While most of these cancers can’t be cured, treatment can help manage symptoms and extend life.
Doctors may use a variety of systemic treatments to control metastatic cancer, which are taken by mouth or IV and reach all parts of the body instead of being targeted for specific tumor sites. These include chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and other drugs. Some of these therapies can cause serious side effects, such as fatigue, hair loss and digestive issues. Many people with metastatic cancer must be on long-term treatment.
Localized treatment, such as surgery, radiation and other local treatments, is less often used to treat metastatic cancer. However, it may be used in certain circumstances, such as when cancers spread to the brain and spinal cord (causing headaches, dizziness and weakness) or where tumors in the liver cause bloating, changes in bowel habits or jaundice.
If cancer has spread to your bone, doctors may recommend treatments such as radiation therapy or drugs that are given by mouth to prevent bones from breaking. Doctors may also recommend gamma knife surgery to treat some cancers that have spread to the brain.
A small percentage of people with metastatic cancer confined to the liver can be cured when both the primary and the liver cancer are completely removed surgically. Doctors are continuing to explore ways to improve the outcomes of patients with this type of metastatic disease.
With more treatments and tools than ever, doctors can help patients live longer with metastatic cancer. While the disease can’t be cured, providers can ease symptoms and reduce pain so that patients can get back to enjoying their lives.
Although all cancers can spread, the term metastatic is usually reserved for solid tumors that have metastasized (spread) to other parts of the body. Blood cancers, like leukemia and multiple myeloma, are often considered to be metastatic at diagnosis, because they have already spread throughout the bloodstream and into lymph nodes and bone marrow. Sometimes, a patient may have metastases when they are diagnosed with their initial cancer, but more commonly, the first signs of metastatic disease develop several years after a person receives their primary cancer treatment.
When a cancer cell metastasizes, it usually forms a secondary tumor in a distant site. It could be in a nearby location, such as the liver or bones; or it could be in a location that is farther away from the primary cancer site, such as the brain or lungs. In either case, the new tumors that form from the spreading cancer cells still look and act like the original cancer, so healthcare providers treat them the same way they would a primary tumor.
This approach works best in cases of local or regional metastasis, when the tumors are close to where the cancer started and remain fairly small. It is less effective for more distant or widespread metastasis, which is why researchers are looking at ways to treat the spread itself instead of just treating the primary tumor.
The process by which cancer spreads is complex, with many different steps that could be targeted with drugs. At Fred Hutch, scientists are using experimental tools to understand the metastasis cascade and to find ways to stop it. Their current work includes approaches that target early steps of the process, those that prevent the cancer cells from leaving a primary tumor and spreading, and others that kill or maintain dormant metastasis cells.
In the future, healthcare providers hope to test a combination of these strategies in people with oligometastasis, when they have small numbers of metastases in just one or two sites. If successful, this approach could lead to better methods of detecting and treating metastatic cancer in its earliest stages.
