What Is Colon Cancer Metastasis?
Metastasis refers to the spread of cancerous growth from one part of a body to another. In colon cancer, metastasis refers to the spread of cancerous cells from the colon or rectum to other parts of the body usually involving the liver and lungs. Metastasis occurs when cells from a tumor break apart and travel through the lymphatic system or the blood to another part of the body. Research is being done to find out why this phenomenon occurs. However, as of now, no exact cause has been pinpointed. Several symptoms are related to the spread of colon cancer. These include abdominal pain, decrease in appetite, fatigue, severe weight loss, urinary tract problems and increased urination, pelvic or rectal pain. If you find any of these symptoms you must go for a screening. You doctor might put you through other tests such as blood tests, chest x-rays, bone x-rays, CT scan of the abdomen and pelvis, colonoscopy and barium x-ray of the bowel. Although metastatic cancer can be treated, the treatment varies depending on which part of the body the cancer has spread to. If new cancerous cells are found in the colon, more surgery may be required. If the cancer has spread to liver and lungs, chemotherapy is recommended in order to kill the cancerous cells. If the cancer has become severe and spread to the bone, then radiation is recommended to prevent further metastasis. The effects of metastatic cancer are controllable for a limited time. Always talk to your doctor about the course of the disease. It is very important for you to take good care of yourself in the event of metastasis. Always keep follow up treatment in mind to prevent spreading of cancer. Learn to relax, meditate and alleviate stress. Get lots of rest and eat healthy meals. It is possible to prevent metastatic cancer from occurring at all. All you need to do is be careful and go for regular checkups. Always go for your follow up treatment and follow a careful routine to delay metastasis. It has been found that about two thirds of the patients with metastatic colon cancer have liver as the first site where the cancer spreads to. However, many of these patients also have extra hepatic diseases. But for the two thirds of patients with metastatic colon cancer, the cancer remains confined to the liver according to imaging studies. Follow up programs are therefore extremely important to prevent the spread of cancer. Usually metastasis occurs two years after the first operation. Within five years, the chances of the cancer spreading to other parts of the body are greatly reduced; however, new polyps can develop. Colonoscopy and other methods of regular screening can make sure that the cancer has not dangerously spread to other parts of the body. If you take care properly, it is definitely possible to cure colon cancer metastasis. |
