Metastatic Cancer

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Metastatic carcinoma occurs when cancer spreads from its original location to other parts of the body. Sometimes this is referred to as Stage 4 cancer.

Norton Children’s Cancer Institute

Talk to a member of our care team about advanced pediatric cancer treatment.

Cancer typically first spreads to nearby healthy tissue, then through the walls of nearby lymph nodes or blood vessels. Once in the lymphatic system or bloodstream, the cancer moves to other parts of the body. After invading the blood vessel walls at a distant location, a small tumor can start to grow. New blood vessels grow to supply the tumor with blood.

Cancer cells often will die at some point in the metastasis (spreading) process, but some survive to form new tumors. The cells can remain dormant at a distant site for many years.

Metastatic carcinoma cells will have features of the original cancer when viewed through a microscope, which tell pathologists the cancer has spread. Cancer tends to spread to the bones, liver or lungs more often than other sites.

Often, there are no symptoms of metastatic carcinoma. Symptoms will depend on the size and location of new tumors.

Some common signs of metastatic carcinoma:

  • Bone: Pain and fractures
  • Brain: Headache, seizures or dizziness
  • Liver: Jaundice or swelling in the abdomen
  • Lung: Dificultad para respirar

Metastatic carcinoma has the best chance of being cured when it’s treated by pediatric cancer specialists. Young adults may benefit from treatment at a children’s hospital instead of an adult-service hospital because of the care team’s expertise specifically in childhood diseases.

Treatment for metastatic carcinoma focuses on limiting or stopping the cancer’s spread. It requires experienced, skilled oncologists. Treatment options are based on the type of original cancer, where it has spread, previous treatment and the patient’s overall health. Well-controlled metastatic cancer can add years of life.

Palliative care focuses on relieving symptoms to improve quality of life.

The board-certified and fellowship-trained oncologists at Norton Children’s Cancer Institute, affiliated with the UofL School of Medicine, collaborate to examine every pediatric cancer patient’s case. The oncology team comes together at regular conferences to share viewpoints from various perspectives that help determine the best course of treatment. It’s like getting second, third and fourth opinions all at once.

By staying at the forefront of research, Norton Children’s Cancer Institute physicians are experienced with newly approved therapies for metastatic carcinoma and can provide access to clinical trials of experimental treatments.

La diferencia de Norton Children’s

El programa de atención oncológica del Norton Children’s Hospital es uno de los programas de oncología más antiguos de EE. UU. con acreditación constante del Comité del Cáncer del Colegio Americano de Cirujanos. Con el respaldo de casi 60 años de experiencia en pediatría, contamos con un equipo de atención oncológica con experiencia compuesto por más de 200 especialistas líderes en cáncer, que incluye oncólogos, cirujanos, enfermeros, trabajadores sociales, capellanes, conductistas, terapeutas y farmacéuticos. Este equipo multidisciplinario capacitado se concentra por completo en las necesidades de su hijo y su familia.

Además, contamos con:

  • El principal programa multidisciplinario de tumores cerebrales pediátricos de Kentucky
  • Los únicos programas de aféresis pediátrica y fotoféresis pediátrica de Kentucky
  • Un programa de inmunoterapia
  • Uno de los programas de tratamiento de la anemia falciforme más grandes del país
  • La principal clínica de transición y programa para adolescentes y adultos jóvenes
  • El único tratamiento de terapia de células T con receptor de antígeno quimérico (T-RAQ) de Kentucky para pacientes pediátricos
  • Programa de supervivencia después del cáncer
  • Programa de hemorragia y coagulación pediátricas (hemostasia y trombosis)

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