Metastasis
In one sentence
Metastasis is the spread of cancer cells from their original site to distant organs through blood or lymph.
Metastasis is the spread of cancer cells from their original site to distant organs through blood or lymph.
Why it matters
Whether a cancer has spread is the central question of staging, and it reshapes goals: localised disease is often treated for cure, metastatic disease for control and quality of life — a distinction modern therapies keep softening.
The hopeful footnote
For several cancers, selected patients with limited metastases now achieve long-term control. Staging language sounds final; treatment reality increasingly is not.
Patient education
Definitions explain terms; they do not interpret your individual results or replace a consultation.