Health Encyclopedia

Metastasis

Definition

Metastasis is the movement or spreading of cancer cells from one organ or tissue to another. Cancer cells usually spread through the bloodstream or the lymph system.

Alternative Names

Metastatic cancer; Cancer metastases

Information

Whether or not cancer cells metastasize (spread to) 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:10/30/2006
Reviewed By:William Matsui, MD, Assistant Professor of Oncology, Division of Hematologic Malignancies, The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins, Baltimore, MD. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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