Which cancers spread where?

This is a brief description of where certain cancers are most likely to spread. It’s not a list of every place where a cancer could spread. For more details on these cancers, see our information on the specific cancer site.

Bladder

Bladder cancer tends to stay in the same area (the pelvis) and grow into nearby tissues such as the pelvic wall. It can also spread to the lungs, liver, and bone.

Brain

Brain tumors rarely spread outside the brain. They mainly grow within the brain and sometimes into the spinal cord.

Breast

Breast cancer most commonly spreads to the bones, but also can spread to the liver, lungs, and brain. As the cancer progresses, it may affect any organ. It can also spread to the skin of the chest (near where the cancer started).

Cervix

Cancer of the cervix tends to grow near where it started, into the vagina and uterus and then other parts of the pelvis, such as the rectum and bladder. It can also grow into the bones and nerves of the spine, and spread to the liver, lungs, and bones.

Colon and rectum

The most common sites for colon or rectal cancer spread are the liver and lungs. These cancers may also spread to nearly any other organ, including the bones and brain.

Rectal cancer can also spread within in the pelvis, where the cancer started. This can be painful because it often grows into nerves and bones in this area.

Esophagus

Esophageal cancer mostly grows near where it started (in the chest and belly). As it progresses, it may grow into nearby organs or major blood vessels, which can make it hard to treat.

Kidney

Kidney (renal) cancer can grow where it started and invade nearby tissues. It can grow from the kidney into the large vein that drains the blood from the kidney (the renal vein). From there it can grow into a large vein that empties into the heart (the inferior vena cava). It can also grow from the kidney into the adrenal gland, which sits on top of the kidney. When it spreads, the lungs and bones are the most common sites.

Leukemia

Because they are already in the blood, leukemias can be considered to have spread throughout the body when they are diagnosed. They can progress by filling the bone marrow with leukemia cells. The normal bone marrow is replaced and cannot make new blood cells.

Some leukemias may spread outside the blood and into the fluid that surrounds the brain and spinal cord. Tumors made up of leukemia cells can also occur in the skin or in other parts of the body, but this is not common. In some types of leukemia, the cancer cells collect in the spleen, causing it to become large. Less often, leukemia cells settle in the liver, causing it to enlarge. In one type of leukemia, the cells deposit in the gums, so that they become red and swollen.

Liver

Liver cancer doesn't often spread outside the liver. It tends to grow throughout the liver as it becomes advanced. If it does spread, it’s most often to the lungs or bones.

Lung

Lung cancer can spread to almost any organ of the body, but most often it will spread to the adrenal glands, liver, bones, or brain. It can also spread to the other lung.

Lymphoma

Lymphoma can affect any part of the body. While most start in the lymph nodes, spleen, and/or bone marrow, some start in lymph tissue in the stomach, intestines, or even the eye socket. Lymphomas can spread within the lymph system to distant parts of the body. Less often, they spread outside the lymph system to other organs, such as the lungs, liver, or bone. Lymphomas can affect the brain and spinal cord, either initially (called primary central nervous system lymphoma) or as spread to the fluid and tissues (the meninges) surrounding the brain and spinal cord. This is called lymphomatous meningitis.

Melanoma

Melanoma can spread anywhere in the body. It first tends to go to lymph nodes near where it started, but then can spread to the brain, lungs, liver, and bones. It can also spread to other areas of skin.

Mouth and throat

Cancers of the mouth, throat, or nasal passages tend to stay in the same area. When they spread, it’s usually to the lungs. Less often they may spread to the liver or bones.

Multiple myeloma

Multiple myeloma can cause tumors called plasmacytomas. These tumors can spread to the bones anywhere in the body, but they rarely spread to other organs.

Ovary

Ovarian cancer most often spreads to the lining of the abdomen (belly) and pelvis (this lining is called the peritoneum), the omentum (a layer of connective tissue that drapes the abdominal cavity like an apron), and organs in the pelvis and belly. It can cause a build-up of fluid and swelling in the abdomen. It can also spread to the outer lining of the lungs and cause fluid to build up there. As it becomes more advanced, it may spread to the lung and liver, or, rarely, to the brain or skin.

Pancreas

Pancreatic cancer mainly stays in the abdomen (belly). It tends to grow into nearby tissues and may spread to the liver or other nearby organs. It can also spread to the lungs.

Prostate

Advanced prostate cancer most often goes to the bones. Much less often, it will spread to other organs, including the lungs and liver.

Stomach

Stomach (gastric) cancer tends to spread to nearby tissues and stay within the abdomen (belly). It may also spread to the liver or distant lymph nodes. Spread to the lungs, bones, and brain is less common.

Uterus

Cancer that starts in the uterus can grow into the vagina as well as nearby tissues in the pelvis. It also commonly spreads to the peritoneum (the lining of the abdominal cavity and pelvis) and the omentum (a layer of connective tissue that drapes the abdominal cavity like an apron). Other sites of cancer spread include the liver, lungs, and, less often, bones.

Source:www.cancer.org

Why cancer cells tend to spread to certain parts of the body?

Where a cancer starts often plays a role in where it will spread. Most cancer cells that break free from the original tumor are carried in the blood or lymph until they get trapped in the next “downstream” organ or set of lymph nodes. Once the cells are there, they can start new tumors. This explains why breast cancer often spreads to underarm lymph nodes, but rarely to lymph nodes in the groin. Likewise, there are many cancers that commonly spread to the lungs. This is because the heart pumps blood from the rest of the body through the lungs’ blood vessels before sending it elsewhere. The liver is a common site of spread for cancer cells that start in the colon because blood from the intestines flows into the liver.

Cancer cells often break away from the main (primary) tumor and travel through the blood and/or lymph system, but they don’t always settle in and start new tumors. Most of the time, the cells that broke away die. When cancer does spread to other organs and start to form new tumors, it’s because of certain genetic changes in the cells that scientists are now starting to understand. Someday, doctors may be able to tell if a person’s cancer is the type that will spread to other organs by looking for these genetic changes. Research is also focusing on treatments that block or target these genetic changes so the cancer cells can’t spread and grow.

Sometimes the patterns of spread cannot be explained by where things are in the body. Some cancer cells are able to find and invade certain sites far away from where they started. For example, advanced prostate cancer often moves into the bones before spreading to other organs. This “homing” pattern may be caused by substances on the cancer cell surfaces that stick to cells in certain organs.

Breast Cancer: Everything You Need to Know!

What is Breast Cancer?

Breast cancer develops from the uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells in the breast tissue. These growing cells form a tumor in the breast, which can sometimes be felt as a lump. There are several types of breast cancer, but the most common type is ductal carcinoma, which arises in the milk ducts (the passages through which milk flows toward the nipple). A small percentage of breast cancers develop in the lobules (small glands in which milk is produced) and are called lobular carcinoma.

Ductal and lobular cancers are further classified by whether the cancer cells have spread to other parts of the body. If the breast cancer cells are confined within the milk ducts or lobules, it is called noninvasive or in situ cancer. When the cancer has grown into surrounding tissue or spread to other parts of the body, it is called invasive or infiltrating cancer. About 80 percent of all breast cancers are invasive ductal carcinomas (IDC).

What Causes Breast Cancer?

The precise cause of breast cancer is unknown; it is most likely due to a combination of genetic and environmental factors. Some women who exhibit many of the risk factors of breast cancer never contract the disease, while some who manifest none of the risk factors may succumb to it.

There does appear to be a link between breast cancer and the hormone estrogen. It's possible that the more that a woman is exposed to estrogen, the greater risk she has of breast cancer at some point. Researchers are investigating events in a woman's life, such as her age of first and last menstruation, her age at childbirth and whether she breastfed or underwent hormone therapy, as these events all affect the estrogen levels in the body.

The two most important risk factors to doctors right now are a woman's family history of breast cancer and her age. A woman with a blood relative who had breast cancer is two to three times more likely to develop the disease herself, while women who are older than 60 have a greater risk than younger women.

What Are the Risk Factors for Breast Cancer?

There are some risk factors for breast cancer that are within your control, while there are others that are out of your hands.

Risk factors include:

• Gender -- Women are much more susceptible to breast cancer than men.
• Age -- Older women are at greater risk than younger women.
• Family history of breast cancer -- If a blood relative, such as a mother or a sister, has had breast cancer, then the likelihood increases that other women in the family will have breast cancer.
• Inherited genes -- Some women carry the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes, which increase the risk of breast cancer.
• Personal history of breast cancer -- If a woman has had breast cancer before, she may have it again in the other breast.
• Obesity -- Obese and overweight women are at a greater risk of breast cancer.
• Alcohol use -- Excessive alcohol consumption may increase the risk of breast cancer.
• Estrogen-containing medicines -- Women who undergo hormone therapy after menopause may have an increased risk of breast cancer, as well as many women who take oral contraceptives containing estrogen. Ask your doctor before beginning any type of medication that includes estrogen.
• Age at menstruation, menopause and childbirth -- Menstruating at an early age has been linked with an increased risk of breast cancer, as has beginning menopause at an older age. Women who give birth for the first time after the age of 35 may also be more susceptible.

How is Breast Cancer Detected?

Breast cancer can develop for quite a while without any visible symptoms. As the cancer progresses, these symptoms may become apparent:

• A lump or thickening in the breast or under the arm
• A change in the size or shape of the breast
• Discharge from the nipple or tenderness of the nipple
• A change in the color or texture of the skin of the breast or nipple (such as dimpling, puckering, scaliness or new creases)
• A scaly, thickened or inward-turning nipple

See your doctor if you experience any of these symptoms. Your doctor may then order a mammogram, or an X-ray of the breast. In the United States, the government recommends that women over the age of 50 get a mammogram every two years; women who exhibit many of the risk factors listed on the last page should consult their doctors about when to start getting regular mammograms. Mammograms are often how doctors detect abnormalities in the breast, though they may also use tools such as breast ultrasound,breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or biopsies.

How is Breast Cancer Treated?

Breast cancers are divided into different groups, called stages, based on the size of the tumor, whether it is invasive or noninvasive, and whether it has spread through the lymph nodes to other parts of the body. Stage 0 cancer indicates a small, noninvasive tumor, while Stage IV is the highest stage, indicating cancer has spread. To determine whether the cancer is invasive and has spread outside the breast, a surgeon removes one or more lymph nodes and examines them for cancer cells.

The course of treatment depends on the stage of the cancer, the woman's age and her general state of health. Treatment options include:

• Lumpectomy, or surgical removal of the tumor
• Partial mastectomy, which is removal of the tumor and some surrounding tissue
• Total mastectomy, or removal of the entire breast, leaving the underarm lymph nodes
• Modified radical mastectomy, which includes removal of the entire breast, some of the underarm lymph nodes and one of the smaller chest muscles
• Chemotherapy, which uses drugs to destroy cancerous cells. Chemotherapy may be used before or after surgery.
• Radiation uses beams of energy to kill cancerous cells.
• Hormonal therapy may be used for certain types of breast cancer that are sensitive to estrogen and progesterone. Tests can determine if the cells will respond to hormones.
• Targeted drugs, which include Avastin and Herceptin

After enduring a scary diagnosis and a strenuous treatment, it can be frustrating to learn that you still have to be on guard for a recurrence of the cancer. Still, the odds are with you -- 70 percent of women live more than five years after receiving their initial diagnosis, while half survive more than 10 years.

5 Things You Need to Know About Breast Cancer.

So here are five important things to keep in mind about breast cancer.

#1: Not all breast cancer is created equal

There’s no question that hearing the “c” word can be very frightening. But the reality is that there are a range of differences in types of breast cancer. DCIS, for example, which stands for ductal carcinoma in situ, tends to be a less aggressive form of breast cancer. Conversely, inflammatory breast cancer tends to be more aggressive.

#2: Exercise lowers your risk

We know that exercise is good for us. It’s good for your mind, it’s good for your waistline, and it can even improve your sex life. But women who exercise and have an active lifestyle also reduce their risk of developing breast cancer. It may have something to do with levels of estrogen in the body and body fat percentages. Even walking can be beneficial. One recent study found that women who were active and exercised regularly lowered their risk by as much as 30 percent as compared to sedentary women.

#3: Breastfeeding lowers your risk

Breastfeeding is great for babies. But it’s also good for moms. One study found that women who breastfed their babies were up to 25 percent less likely to develop pre-menopausal breast cancer compared with women who never breastfeed.

#4: Drinking alcohol increases your risk

So here’s the bad news. It really does appear that women who drink alcohol on a regular basis, even moderately, have an increased risk of breast cancer. That’s especially the case for younger women. One study found that women between their first period and their first pregnancy who consumed just on average seven alcoholic drinks per week had an 11 percent increased risk of developing breast cancer. So go easy on those drinks.

#5: Talking with your doctor can save your life

Talking about your breast health with your doctor is an important step in learning about your breast cancer risk, and catching and treating it early if it develops. He or she will be able to provide clinical breast exams, the best advice as to when you should be getting a mammogram and how often, as well as whether you require additional tests. For example, while you’ve probably heard  about ultrasounds and sonograms in connection with pregnancy, they’re also very commonly used in younger women with dense breasts. Combined with a mammogram, an ultrasound can sometimes distinguish between a cyst and a suspicious, possibly cancerous, lesion in these women.

Signs of Breast Cancer.

Many people who are diagnosed with breast cancer feel ambushed and surprised. This is because early breast cancer often does not cause pain or other symptoms. However, there are signs of cancer that women and their partners often do find. It is important to check with a doctor if a breast or nipple changes shape, color or discharge.

Signs of breast cancer can include:

1. Fluid (other than breast milk) coming from the nipple
2. Change in the way a breast or nipple feels:
   
   • Nipple tenderness
   • Lumps or thickening in the breast or underarm
3. Change in the way a breast or nipple looks:
   
   • Changes in size or shape
   • A nipple that starts to turn inwards or is indented
   • Scaly, red or swollen skin or nipple
   • Breast that is swollen, red and hot to the touch
   • Skin texture like the skin of an orange

Finding Breast Cancer Earlier

There are steps women can take to find breast cancer early, when it generally is easier to treat. Try to establish a regular routine of breast care, including:

1. Examining your breasts monthly after age 20.
2. Having a doctor or gynecologist perform a clinical breast exam at least every three years between 20 and 39 years of age.
3. Scheduling annual mammograms every one to two years from age 40 to 49, depending on your risk profile, and then every year after that.

A mammogram is an imaging study of breast tissue. Regular mammogram screenings make it possible to find breast cancer early in its development. Recent research suggests that breast cancer tumors double in size in 1.7 years on average.

Keep a log or diary of these activities and the results as part of your health records.

It is also very important to let your doctor know about any history of cancer in your family, including brothers, sisters, father, mother and grandparents. Some women who are at higher risk for breast cancer might need to be more aggressive about early detection plans, including more frequent clinical exams or mammograms.

Familiarize yourself with the risk factors for breast cancer. Be sure to tell your know about any risk factors you might have, such as previous chest radiation treatments, benign breast lumps or a history of alcohol use. Do what you can on a personal level to reduce your risk, including limiting alcohol and getting enough physical activity.