Metastasis is the movement or spreading of cancer cells from one organ or tissue to another. Cancer cells usually spread via the bloodstream or the lymph system.
Alternative Names:
Metastatic cancer; Cancer metastases
Information:
Whether or not cancer cells metastasize to other parts of the body depends on many factors, including:
The type of cancer
The stage of the cancer
Original location of the cancer
Treatment depends on the type of cancer and where it has metastasized.
Review Date: 11/9/2004
Reviewed By: Marcia S. Brose, M.D., Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Hematology/Oncology, The University of Pennsylvania Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.
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