What is Secondary Cancer?

Secondary cancer usually also be called metastasis cancer and it is as a result of metastasis. While Metastasis Cancer is a certain type of cancer that spread from one or part organ to a non-adjacent organ or part.

Malignant tumor cells and infections can metastasize. Cancerous cells can break away, leak or spill from a primary tumor and as well as the blood vessels, it can enter the lymphatic system. Through the blood stream, they can circulate and start growth within normal tissues elsewhere in the body. However, metastasis is a major characteristic of malignancy and most tumors and neoplasms can metastasize although in varying degrees.

The resulting tumor is called a metastatic or secondary tumor, when tumor cells metastasize. In general terms it can be called secondary cancer. The cells in the metastatic tumor are the same as those in the original tumor.

In the advanced stages of cancer, metastatic tumors are common and the spread of metastases may occur through the lymphatic system or the bloodstream or through both. The lungs, brain, liver and the bones are the most common areas for metastases to develop. So there are many types of secondary cancers such as secondary liver cancer, secondary bone cancer, secondary breast cancer, secondary lung cancer, secondary brain cancer, secondary liver cancer prognosis, etc.

Malignant cells break away from the primary tumor, attach to and degrade the proteins that make up the surrounding extracellular matrix which separates the tumor from the adjoining tissue. By degrading the proteins, the cancerous cells are able to penetrate the extracellular matrix and escape.

Secondary Cancer Treatment

Metastatic or secondary cancer can be treated with chemotherapy, radiosurgery and radiation therapy. Other treatment methods include hormone therapy, biological therapy, surgery cancer or through a combination of any two. Normally, the choice of treatment depends on the size of primary cancer, the type and location of the metastasis as well as the patient’s age and general health.

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• Cancer Stem Cell

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1. Secondary Breast Cancer
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5. Metastatic Cancer

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