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What does metastatic mean in medical terms?
(meh-TAS-tuh-sis) The spread of cancer cells from the place where they first formed to another part of the body. In metastasis, cancer cells break away from the original (primary) tumor, travel through the blood or lymph system, and form a new tumor in other organs or tissues of the body.
What does it mean if something is metastasized?
(meh-TAS-tuh-size) To spread from one part of the body to another. When cancer cells metastasize and form secondary tumors, the cells in the metastatic tumor are like those in the original (primary) tumor.
What does Hypermetabolic mean on a PET scan?
A radioactive substance is given to the patient and this attaches to glucose, which is attracted to cells that are hypermetabolic. When the scan is done, these areas “light up.” Often, but not always, cancer cells fall into this category of being hypermetabolic.
What is the difference between metastatic and metastasis?
Metastases is the plural form of metastasis. Metastases most commonly develop when cancer cells break away from the main tumor and enter the bloodstream or lymphatic system.
Can malignancy be cured?
There is currently no cure for cancer. However, successful treatment can result in cancer going into remission, which means that all signs of it have gone. The early detection and treatment of cancer can significantly improve the chances of remission and a person’s outlook.
What does it mean if cancer has metastasized?
Metastasis means that cancer spreads to a different body part from where it started. When this happens, doctors say the cancer has “metastasized.” Your doctor may also call it “metastatic cancer,” “advanced cancer,” or “stage 4 cancer.”.
What does metastasizing mean?
verb (used without object), me·tas·ta·sized, me·tas·ta·siz·ing. Pathology . (of malignant cells or disease-producing organisms) to spread to other parts of the body by way of the blood or lymphatic vessels or membranous surfaces. to spread injuriously: Street gangs have metastasized in our city.
What does metastasis mean in medical dictionary?
Metastasis: 1. The process by which cancer spreads from the place at which it first arose as a primary tumor to distant locations in the body. 2. The cancer resulting from the spread of the primary tumor. For example, someone with melanoma may have a metastasis in their brain, while a person with colon cancer might, fortunately, have no metastases.
What does metastasis mean cancer?
Metastasis is the spread of cancer throughout the body. This occurs when cancer cells break off from the original tumor and make their way into the blood or the lymphatic system, a network of tissues and organs that produce, store and carry white blood cells throughout the body.