What Are the Treatments for Cancer That Has Metastasized?

According to the National Cancer Institute, cancerous tumors most commonly spread to the liver, lungs, bone and brain. When cancer cells spread to form new tumors, doctors refer to the process as metastasis and offer treatments tailored to the patient.

Treatment Types

• Doctors treat metastatic cancers with the same treatments they use for cancers that haven't spread. Patients may receive surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, hormone therapy, biological therapy or a combination of treatment modalities.

Misconceptions

• If a cancer has metastasized to another part of the body, the cancer cells still resemble the cells of the primary tumor. For example, doctors treat lung cancer that spreads to the brain as lung cancer, not as brain cancer.

Considerations

• Doctors consider the primary cancer type and a cancer patient's treatment history when planning therapy for a metastatic tumor. The doctor also considers the site of the metastatic tumor and the patient's overall health.

Time Frame

• Patients with aggressive tumor types may receive treatment immediately after the discovery of a metastasis. However, for some patients, the risks of treatment outweigh the benefits and the doctor monitors the patient for changes before starting treatment.

Benefits

• Although doctors seek to cure metastatic tumors with the treatments they administer, not every patient will achieve a cure. Even if a cure isn't possible, treatment can prolong a patient's life and improve the quality of life by reducing symptoms of the tumor.