Everything To Know About Metastatic Cancer

Cancer is one of the biggest scourges of mankind, accounting for nearly 1 in 6 deaths globally. In India alone, about 2.5 million people are affected by cancer, and over 7 lakh new cases get registered every year. Cancers affecting the oral cavity and lung cancer in males and breast cancer in case of females constitute the majority of the cancer incidences in the country.

 On the brighter side, timely diagnosis and treatment can often make all the difference in the world. Fortis Hospitals, regarded as the top cancer care hospital in Bangalore, is well-equipped with cutting-edge infrastructure and qualified, experienced specialists who use advanced techniques to diagnose and treat cancer effectively.

Recently, a prominent Indian actor was diagnosed with metastatic cancer, which is high-grade cancer, bringing the spotlight once again on this dreaded disease. Let us know what exactly metastatic cancer is and how it can be treated.

What is Metastatic Cancer?

Metastasis is the medical term for cancer that spreads to a different part of the body from where it started. Although it is sometimes called “advanced cancer”, this is not always true, as sometimes cancer may only be locally advanced, i.e. it has only spread to the nearby lymph nodes and tissues and is not the same as metastatic cancer. This is usually categorized as stage 4 cancer.

How do metastases develop?

Metastases occur when the cancer cells break away from the main tumor and spreads to other parts of the body through the bloodstream or the lymphatic system. These cancer cells then settle in different parts of the body and form tumors. These newly-formed tumors are called secondary tumors. If the cancer has spread widely before it is diagnosed, or its origin remains unknown even after diagnosis, then it is known as cancer of unknown primary origin. The various factors affecting the metastasis are:

• The type of cancer
• How aggressive it is, or how fast it is growing
• How long the person has been affected by it before being diagnosed

 The most common areas where metastasis develops are the liver, lungs, lymph nodes and the bones. Sometimes, it can also occur in the abdominal cavity and the pleural space. In the latter case, it may cause excess fluid accumulation in those areas, called malignant pleural effusions. Breast cancer usually spreads to the underarm lymph nodes, and many cancers often spread to the lungs because the heart pumps blood from the rest of the body through the lungs’ blood vessels.

Symptoms of Metastatic Cancer

The symptoms of metastatic cancer may or may not show depending on the type of cancer and the location of metastases. Some common signs and symptoms are:

• Pain and fractures
• Headache
• Seizures
• Dizziness
• Jaundice or inflammation in the abdominal area
• Shortness of breath
• Confusion
• Difficulty in movement
• Vision problems 

Treatment for Metastatic Cancer

Fortis Hospital has the reputation of being one of India’s leading cancer treatment hospitals. The treatment for metastatic cancer aims to slow down the growth or spread of cancer. The treatment depends on the type of cancer, the place of origin of the metastasis, size of tumor, age of the patient and other factors.

The main treatments for metastasis include:

• Systematic Therapy, including chemotherapy, targeted therapy, hormone therapy and biologic treatment that affects the entire body.
• Local Therapy, which is focused on the area affected by cancer. This includes radiation therapy, surgery etc.
• Palliative treatments, i.e. certain medications, to reduce or control the side-effects of cancer treatments. 

At Fortis Hospitals, which is the top cancer care hospital in Bangalore, the oncology team provides personalized treatment programs using advanced technologies and design specialized treatment plans based on the regions of metastases.