What does one mean by metastatic cancer treatment?

A metastatic malignancy, or metastatic tumor, has spread from the primary site of origin, or where it started, into different areas of the body. When cancer comes to the stage metastatic, doctors often use the verb “metastasized.” For example, a doctor may say that your cancer has metastasized to explain its spread from its original site to another part of the body. This type of cancer is considered an advanced form of cancer, so your care team may also refer to it as advanced cancer or stage 4 cancer.

However, advanced it may be, it isn’t necessarily metastatic cancer treatment Singapore, as some types are considered advanced when they’re large but haven’t yet spread beyond the area they started.

Cancer spreads in the body as soon as the cancer cells travel through blood or lymph. Lymph exists as clear fluid circulating through the body via the lymph system, a network of organs, tissues, and vessels. Before cancer can reach the bloodstream or lymph system, it must split off from the original tumor. This may occur if a tumor grows large and invades other tissue nearby. If cancerous cells grow into nearby lymph nodes or blood vessels, cancer cells can break off and enter the bloodstream or lymph system. As cancer travel through the body, it can settle down in another part of the body and start to form a new tumor.

What are the treatments available for metastatic cancer in Singapore?

Treatment for this type of cancer aims to slow the growth or spread of cancer. Treatment depends on the type of cancer, where it started, the size and location of Singapore’s metastatic cancer treatment, and other factors. Typically, it requires systemic therapy or medications given by mouth or injected into the bloodstream to reach cancer cells throughout the body, such as chemotherapy or hormone therapy. Other treatments might include immunotherapy, radiation therapy, surgery, or a combination of these.

Before undergoing medical attention for metastatic cancer, consider asking your doctor about enrolling in a clinical trial. Current treatments, as well as new cancer treatments, are constantly being studied in clinical trials. Clinical trials include access to novel treatments that may be more appropriate than the current standard-of-care options. There’s no assurance that a clinical trial will benefit you, but it may provide a new way forward, particularly if you’ve exhausted other options. Your care staff can help you think about whether a clinical trial is proper for you.