How Is Cancer Spread?

One of the factors that make cancer a dreaded disease is the fact that it does not remain within one affected area, but spreads to other parts of the body, effectively transforming healthy cells into tumor cells. Cancer is caused by the corruption of DNA cells by carcinogens, such as tobacco and alcohol, and other sources, including viruses and overexposure to radiation. These cells become cancerous as they multiply at an alarming rate. The cancer then spreads as the mutated cells grow and divide at abnormal speeds, attack and encroach on neighboring cells and surrounding tissue, and spread to other organs.

Cancer is difficult to treat when it has spread, with the survival rate decreasing the farther the cancer has traveled. One of the reasons for this is it becomes more difficult to determine which part of the body the cancer had originated. There are several types of cancer, and each type has its own specific treatments. Surgery is best for penile cancer, for example, while other cancers respond better to chemotherapy or radiation.

When a cancer has spread to a different part of the body, it does not become a different kind of cancer. To illustrate, when bone cancer has spread to the lungs, it does not become lung cancer. It is still bone cancer and should be treated as such.

Cancerous cells can be distinguished from healthy cells by its quicker mobility. That they bustle about faster than normal explains their tendency to dispersion. Recent research has discovered that cancerous cells possess a substance that seems to energize the cells into motion, and doctors hope that extensive research will help them control these substances and curb cancer spreading.

The 3 Ways Cancer Spreads to Other Part of the Body

Cancer is spread in three ways: local spread, through blood circulation and through the lymph nodes. Local spread entails the expansion of the cancer within its origin; enveloping the entire organ, such as the kidney or within the pharyngeal area. Also, tumors may enlarge and push its way through yielding sections of its enveloping tissue.

When the cancer moves to another part of the body, it is called metastasis. Dispersion of cancer through the blood happens when cancer cells separates itself from its originating tumor and delve through a blood vessel. The cancerous cell will travel with the circulating blood until it becomes attached to a random area, usually stuck in a capillary. Of course, the mobile cell will “free” itself by penetrating the vessel wall and into the organ it is nearest to. This manner of spreading is not very common because cancer cells may be killed in the process of circulation. If it is not able to attach to anything right away, the cell may die. Additionally, it may encounter white blood cells, which will definitely kill the cell off.

Cancer spread is achieved more effectively through the lymphatic system. The process is similar to the spreading through blood circulation, but this time the cancerous cell attaches to the lymphs that travel through the body. The pathways in the lymphatic system are smaller than blood vessels, and cancerous cells effectively multiply inside the lymph nodes.

When tumors are extracted during surgery, doctors take care to take out surrounding lymph nodes as well, as there might still be cancerous cells within these glands. After all, it takes only one cell.

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