Metastatic Cancer: How Cancer Spreads

How Is Metastatic Cancer Treated?

Since the cancerous cells in the secondary site are so similar to the malignant cells in the primary site, treatment options for the two are often the same and may include a combination of surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Treatment for metastasized cancers takes many factors into consideration, such as the type of primary cancer, how much the secondary cancer has progressed in terms of tumor size and location and considerations about the patient, such as age and health history. For many cancers — such as prostate cancer — once they metastasize, the goal of treatment shifts away from curing the disease and towards preserving and extending quality of life.

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Review Date: 
November 18, 2014

Citation: 
Last Updated:
November 19, 2014