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In simple words, metastasis is the spread of cancer from the primary site (site of origin) to other adjacent and distant sites in the body. This happens when the condition is not detected early and treated. Once it spreads, it is very difficult to cure and the lifespan of the patient reduced significantly. One can only do so much to ensure they stay alive and comfortable. For this reason, cancer metastasis research has been intensified globally with the hope of finding a breakthrough to this killer disease.
Cancerous spread can be spread to other organs through blood vessels, the lymphatic system or direct encroachment on the immediate environment. Tumors tend to spread to organs such as the skeletal system, the lungs, the liver and the brain. Unfortunately, the survival of the patient is greatly threatened once these organs are affected since they play a crucial role in the day to day functioning of the human body.
A person who already has cancer and develops a persistent cough or breathlessness may be suspected to have metastasis to the lungs. Spread to the bones typically manifests with frequent fractures with very minimal trauma causing the fracture. Involvement of the brain may be indicated by convulsions, headache, dizziness and so on. Of note and perhaps a fortunate fact is that these symptoms do not always spell metastasis and could just be a different illness altogether.
Surgical excision is usually the treatment of choice for isolated cancers whose margins can be defined. However, for tumours present in multiple places, it is impractical to go about excising each and every one of them. In fact, some of them may be missed in the process. The treatment of choice for metastatic tumors is chemotherapy which uses drugs to limit further growth.
Unfortunately, chemotherapy comes with its own adverse effects. This is because in the process of killing unwanted cells, the drugs end up destroying the normal cells too. Patients may lose their hair in the course of treatment not to mention nausea and vomiting. A strong support system is very crucial in the prolonged survival of cancer victims.
Taking the above into account, research studies grapple with the challenge of producing an agent that will only act on the abnormal cells. One study has come very close to achieving this goal. In this study, the most immediate cells surrounding the metastatic lesion are injected with a special chemical agent whose purpose is to influence the size of the lesion.
The metastatic tumour present in the mice was able to shrink to almost undetectable levels. Clinical trials are going on and once the drugs are approved, they will help a great number of people struggling with metastatic disease.
Some research studies focus on genetic mutation of cancer cells as they grow and their response to treatment. In these studies, the core of the cell, also known as DNA is extracted from the normal and abnormal cell. Their characteristics are then evaluated in a special laboratory. This is done for different cancers and it can help identify which ones are inherited and which are not. By so doing, the results obtained help the future generation to be better prepared in terms of early detection through screening.
Cancerous spread can be spread to other organs through blood vessels, the lymphatic system or direct encroachment on the immediate environment. Tumors tend to spread to organs such as the skeletal system, the lungs, the liver and the brain. Unfortunately, the survival of the patient is greatly threatened once these organs are affected since they play a crucial role in the day to day functioning of the human body.
A person who already has cancer and develops a persistent cough or breathlessness may be suspected to have metastasis to the lungs. Spread to the bones typically manifests with frequent fractures with very minimal trauma causing the fracture. Involvement of the brain may be indicated by convulsions, headache, dizziness and so on. Of note and perhaps a fortunate fact is that these symptoms do not always spell metastasis and could just be a different illness altogether.
Surgical excision is usually the treatment of choice for isolated cancers whose margins can be defined. However, for tumours present in multiple places, it is impractical to go about excising each and every one of them. In fact, some of them may be missed in the process. The treatment of choice for metastatic tumors is chemotherapy which uses drugs to limit further growth.
Unfortunately, chemotherapy comes with its own adverse effects. This is because in the process of killing unwanted cells, the drugs end up destroying the normal cells too. Patients may lose their hair in the course of treatment not to mention nausea and vomiting. A strong support system is very crucial in the prolonged survival of cancer victims.
Taking the above into account, research studies grapple with the challenge of producing an agent that will only act on the abnormal cells. One study has come very close to achieving this goal. In this study, the most immediate cells surrounding the metastatic lesion are injected with a special chemical agent whose purpose is to influence the size of the lesion.
The metastatic tumour present in the mice was able to shrink to almost undetectable levels. Clinical trials are going on and once the drugs are approved, they will help a great number of people struggling with metastatic disease.
Some research studies focus on genetic mutation of cancer cells as they grow and their response to treatment. In these studies, the core of the cell, also known as DNA is extracted from the normal and abnormal cell. Their characteristics are then evaluated in a special laboratory. This is done for different cancers and it can help identify which ones are inherited and which are not. By so doing, the results obtained help the future generation to be better prepared in terms of early detection through screening.
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