Metastasis
What can be done to prevent the disease?
Prevention of metastasis depends on early diagnosis and treatment of cancer. Many people have tiny metastases that cannot be seen at the time of diagnosis. Treatments such as chemotherapy or radiation therapy are used as treatment. The prevention and control of metastases is an active area of cancer research.
What are the long-term effects of the disease?
Some cancers with metastasis can be cured. These include tumors that are highly sensitive to radiation therapy or chemotherapy. Following are some examples:
certain forms of leukemia
certain forms of lymphoma, a blood cancer
certain types of thyroid cancer
some sarcomas
testicular and other germ-cell cancers
People can live with metastases for many years. These cancers may include:
breast cancer
low-grade lymphoma and leukemia
low-grade sarcomas
prostate cancer
Metastasis usually leads to death if it cannot be removed or treated.
What are the risks to others?
Metastases are not contagious. They pose no risk to others.
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