Sunday 24 June 2018

Cancer Metastasis Research Tells Us A Lot About How Cancerous Cells Work

By Timothy Stevens


Cancer is a scary diagnosis. When patients hear the bad news that the disease is spreading, or metastasizing, most understand their time may be limited. Researchers know a lot about what cancerous cells can do, and they are learning more every day. Cancer metastasis research has a long way to go though. Discovering how to contain the cells and destroy them before they can move is still in the future.

The thing that makes this disease so serious is the ability of the diseased cells to move from place to place. They are not predictable either. Cells can move within the local area, fan out regionally, or travel to far parts of the body. They do this using the lymph nodes and bloodstream. When cells move into other areas cancers become stage four. These don't become new cancers. They are the metastasized result of the primary cancer.

There are different ways for cancerous cells to spread. They can attach onto or attack healthy tissue located nearby. Cells use the bloodstream to travel to various parts of one's body. They can choose to stop in blood vessels and invade the walls. Tumors can develop once they do this because the cells have the ability to create new blood vessels, which in turn creates a source of blood that feeds the new tumor.

Diseased cells might travel anywhere in the body, but certain cancers tend to spread to particular areas. The most common organs cells spread to are the brain, liver, and lungs. If breast cancers are going to spread, these three organs are the most likely places it will go. Melanoma usually spreads to the brain, bones, skin, muscles, liver, and lungs. Kidney cancers may attack the adrenal glands.

There are certain signs and symptoms that indicate cancerous cells have metastasized. If you suddenly have shortness of breath, the cells may have traveled to a person's lungs. Fractures indicate the disease has infected the bones. When the cells spread to the brain, people can experience dizziness, seizures, and headaches.

Controlling metastasized cells is difficult. Treatments will vary depending on the overall health of the patient, the kind of primary cancer, and what prior treatments the patient has received. The best case scenario is that the cell movement will be stopped and the growth of new cells retarded. Relieving the discomfort of symptoms is a paramount concern. If the treatments are successful, they may prolong the life of a patient.

Treatments are not always successful, and sometimes the cells can not be controlled. People who get this diagnosis have a number of options. They can opt for a continuation of the treatment hoping tumors can be contained or shrink. Many patients choose palliative care to relieve side effects and symptoms and improve the quality of their lives.

Metastasized cancers aren't easy diagnoses to deliver or to hear. End of life decisions have to be made with this kind of news. Nobody knows what the future holds. If you find yourself in this situation, every day will become an unexpected gift.




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