Speaking about this, Padma Shri Awardee, Dr K K Aggarwal, President, HCFI, said, “The news of Sonali Bendre being diagnosed with the disease only points to one fact: the importance of timely diagnosis and action. Cancer is the name given to a collection of related diseases that are caused when a group of abnormal cells begins to grow uncontrollably, often forming a tumor. Tumors can either be benign or malignant. There are four major types of clinical preventive care: immunizations, screening, behavioral counseling (lifestyle changes), and chemoprevention. Screening is the identification of an asymptomatic disease, unhealthy condition, or risk factor. Primary prevention are interventions to keep disease from occurring (e.g. immunization for communicable disease); secondary prevention is detection of early asymptomatic disease (e.g. screening); and tertiary prevention is reducing complications of disease (e.g. eye examinations in patients with diabetes). This nomenclature is applied differently by some other disciplines.”
What is metastatic cancer?
Metastatic cancer, also known as advanced cancer, "is the medical term for cancer that spreads to a different part of the body from where it started," says cancer.net. However, there are cases when a cancer only 'locally advances'. In that case, it has only spread to nearby lymph nodes and tissues and is not categorized as metastasis. Metastatic cancer is most often stage IV (four) cancer.
How metastases develop
Metastases (multiple metastasis) occur when the cancer cells are strong enough to break away from the primary spot and spread to other parts of the body through bloodstream or the lymphatic system. After being transported through these fluids, the cancer cells settle in different parts and form tumours.
All types of cancer can metastasize, says cancer.net. There are various
factors which may affect the metastasis though, such as:
- Its type
- How aggressive or strong it is
- For how long you have had the cancer before you seek treatment
Metases commonly develop in the brain, bones, lymph nodes, liver, and lungs. However, it can also occur in abdominal cavity or pleural space.
Some rare metases spreads also affect muscles, skin or other organs.
Symptoms of metastatic cancer
Metastatic cancer may or may not be symptomatic. The symptoms may or may not show depending on the type of cancer and size and location of metastases. Some signs, if they show, may include:
- Headaches
- Dizziness
- Inflammation
- Vision problems
- Unhealed pain and fractures
- Shortness of breath
- Difficulty in movement
- Confusion
- Jaundice or inflammation in abdominal area
Primary cancer vs metastasized cancer
The nature of the metastasized cancer is the same as that of the primary cancer. For example, if breast cancer metastasizes to the liver, bones or brain, it will not be called liver/bone/brain cancer but “metastatic breast cancer". This is because the cancer is till now understood to be similar in nature.