Patient Education - Endocrine Encyclopedia
Endocrine Surgery Encyclopedia
Definition:
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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