What is Metastasis? Metastasis means that cancer has spread to a different part of your body part than where it started. When this happens, doctors say the cancer has “metastasized.” How do metastases develop? Metastases is the plural form of metastasis. Metastases most commonly develop when cancer cells break away from the main tumour and enter the body's bloodstream or lymphatic system. These systems carry fluids around the body. This means that the cancer cells can travel far from the original tumour and form new tumours when they settle and grow in a different part of the body. Metastases can also develop when cancer cells from the main tumour break off and grow in nearby areas, such as in the liver, lungs, or bones. Any type of cancer can spread. Whether this happens depends on several factors, including: The type of cancer How fast the cancer is growing. Other factors about the behaviour of the cancer that your doctor may find. Where can cancer spread? Cancer can spread to almost every part of the body. However certain cancers are more likely to spread to particular areas. For example, here are some common types of cancer and where they commonly metastasize: Breast cancer tends to spread to the bones, liver, lungs, chest wall, and brain. Lung cancer tends to spread to the brain, bones, liver, and adrenal glands. Prostate cancer tends to spread to the bones. Colon and rectal cancers tend to spread to the liver and lungs. Less frequently, cancer can spread to the skin, muscle, or other organs in the body. Cancer cells can also spread to the lining around the lungs called the pleural cavity. It can also spread to the space around the belly called the peritoneal cavity. When these cancer cells cause fluid to build up in these areas, it is called malignant pleural effusion if in the lungs and malignant ascites if in the abdomen. What are common symptoms of metastasis? Cancer that has spread may not cause any signs or symptoms. If you do experience any signs or symptoms of metastasis, the type and severity depends on where the cancer has spread. Cancer that has spread to the bone. Signs and symptoms that cancer has spread to the bone include pain, fractures, bowel and bladder problems, muscle weakness, and hypercalcemia, which is more calcium in the blood than normal. Learn more in this fact sheet (PDF) about cancer that has spread to the bone. Cancer that has spread to the brain. Signs and symptoms that cancer has spread to the brain include include headache, seizures, dizziness, muscle weakness, balance problems, vision problems, and nausea. Cancer that spreads to the brain can also cause affect how a person's brain processes information, including personality changes, confusion, impaired judgement, memory loss, and socially inappropriate behavior. Learn more in this fact sheet (PDF) about cancer that has spread to the brain. Cancer that has spread to the liver. Signs and symptoms that cancer has spread to the liver include appetite loss, fatigue, fever, jaundice (high levels of bilirubin cause the skin and whites of the eyes to turn yellow), bloating, and swelling in the legs. Cancer that has spread to the lungs. Signs and symptoms that cancer has spread to the lungs include coughing, coughing up blood, chest pain, breathing problems, and fluid around the lungs. Common Sites Where Cancer Spreads (https://youtu.be/fQwar_-QdiQ) Cancer Type Main Sites of Metastasis Bladder Bone, liver, lung Breast Bone, brain, liver, lung Colon Liver, lung, peritoneum Kidney Adrenal gland, bone, brain, liver, lung Lung Adrenal gland, bone, brain, liver, other lung Melanoma Bone, brain, liver, lung, skin, muscle Ovary Liver, lung, peritoneum Cancer Type Main Sites of Metastasis Pancreas Liver, lung, peritoneum Prostate Adrenal gland, bone, liver, lung Rectal Liver, lung, peritoneum Stomach Liver, lung, peritoneum Thyroid Bone, liver, lung Uterus Bone, liver, lung, peritoneum, vagina
