In: Biology
Explain what is meant by metastasis?
Metastasis is a pathogenic agent's which spreads from an original or primary position to a different or secondary location within the host's body, classically spoken of as such spread by a cancerous tumor. Metastasis is the medical term which is used for cancer which spreads to a different part of the body where from it started. Once this happens, doctors say the cancer has “metastasized.” additional names for metastasis are “metastatic cancer” or “stage 4 cancer.” Every so often the term “advanced cancer” as well describes metastatic disease, however this isn’t always true. For example, “locally advanced” cancer is not the similar as metastatic cancer. It describes cancer which has extended to in close proximity tissues or lymph nodes although not all over the body. Metastasis most usually develops as cancer cells break away from the major tumor while enters the bloodstream or lymphatic system. These systems take fluids in the whole body, which means that the cancer cells can move far from the original tumor and then form new tumors when they settle and develop in a different part of the body. Metastases can also occasionally grow when cancer cells from the major tumor, characteristically in the abdominal cavity.