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.
Tumors spread in a number of ways once they have been established in the body. Among these methods is direct invasion to neighboring structures. The tumor can also use blood as a medium to be transported to other organs in the body. Common sites of metastasis include bones, the lungs the brain and the liver. Lymph nodes can also be used by the abnormal cells as a means of spread through lymphatic fluid. In most instances, tumors are said to be at stage four once they grow beyond the primary (original) site.
Symptoms to suggest that a tumor has metastasized depend on where the cancer spreads to. Lung metastasis can be suspected if the patient complains of cough, shortness of breath or blood in their sputum. Liver involvement is suggested by yellowness of the skin and eyes. If the brain is involved, the patient may complain of dizziness and headaches. It should, however, be noted that these are very nonspecific symptoms that could indicate diseases other than a tumor.
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.
The unfortunate thing about chemotherapy is its inability to distinguish the normal cells from the cancerous ones. This explains why patients on chemotherapeutic agents experience tremendous hair loss and often look sicker. The importance of concurrent psychological care can therefore not be overemphasized.
In that regard, ongoing research aims at coming up with a drug that only focuses on the abnormal cells without destruction of normal, functional cells. In one study, mice with metastatic breast tumors were treated with modified stem cells specifically meant to kill the abnormal cells. The study takes advantage of the immediate environment surrounding the tumor.
By influencing the tumor micro-environment, it was observed that the metastatic tumor responded by markedly reducing in size. The good news about such a study is that once it is proven to be effective, the formulation can be applied in the management of masses of metastatic disease survivors and not just a single person.
Another approach to research is studying the cancer cell DNA and making a comparison with the normal cell DNA in a bid to identify genetic mutations linked to family and those that have no familial relations at all. This is important because some cancers are known to run in families. This will go a long way in early cancer detection and therefore minimize the risk of metastasis.
Tumors spread in a number of ways once they have been established in the body. Among these methods is direct invasion to neighboring structures. The tumor can also use blood as a medium to be transported to other organs in the body. Common sites of metastasis include bones, the lungs the brain and the liver. Lymph nodes can also be used by the abnormal cells as a means of spread through lymphatic fluid. In most instances, tumors are said to be at stage four once they grow beyond the primary (original) site.
Symptoms to suggest that a tumor has metastasized depend on where the cancer spreads to. Lung metastasis can be suspected if the patient complains of cough, shortness of breath or blood in their sputum. Liver involvement is suggested by yellowness of the skin and eyes. If the brain is involved, the patient may complain of dizziness and headaches. It should, however, be noted that these are very nonspecific symptoms that could indicate diseases other than a tumor.
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.
The unfortunate thing about chemotherapy is its inability to distinguish the normal cells from the cancerous ones. This explains why patients on chemotherapeutic agents experience tremendous hair loss and often look sicker. The importance of concurrent psychological care can therefore not be overemphasized.
In that regard, ongoing research aims at coming up with a drug that only focuses on the abnormal cells without destruction of normal, functional cells. In one study, mice with metastatic breast tumors were treated with modified stem cells specifically meant to kill the abnormal cells. The study takes advantage of the immediate environment surrounding the tumor.
By influencing the tumor micro-environment, it was observed that the metastatic tumor responded by markedly reducing in size. The good news about such a study is that once it is proven to be effective, the formulation can be applied in the management of masses of metastatic disease survivors and not just a single person.
Another approach to research is studying the cancer cell DNA and making a comparison with the normal cell DNA in a bid to identify genetic mutations linked to family and those that have no familial relations at all. This is important because some cancers are known to run in families. This will go a long way in early cancer detection and therefore minimize the risk of metastasis.
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