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Is Stage 4 the last stage of cancer?

Stage 4 cancer, sometimes called advanced cancer or late-stage cancer, is cancer that has metastasized (spread) to other parts of the body from the original site. This happens when cancer cells break away from the primary tumor and enter the bloodstream or lymphatic system.

verywellhealth.com - Stage 4 Cancer: Definition, Diagnosis, Treatment

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Common Symptoms of Metastatic Cancer When cancer spreads to: It may cause: Lungs •Shortness of breath (dyspnea)

•Cough

•Coughing up blood

•Chest pain Liver •Pain

•Weight loss

•Yellowing of skin (jaundice)

•Abdominal swelling and fluid (ascites) Bones •Pain, especially severe back pain plus numbness in a leg or loss of bowel or bladder control

•Fractures, especially without injury Brain •Headaches

•Dizziness

•Nausea

•Problems with speech or vision

•Trouble walking

•Confusion

•Seizures

Stage 4 cancer also can cause more general symptoms, such as extreme fatigue and lack of energy. Some people become so tired and weak they have trouble doing everyday things. They may even need help with getting dressed or other routine tasks. Hearing your doctor call a liver tumor "breast cancer" may sound strange. But stage 4 cancer is diagnosed based on where the original cancer is located, not where it has spread. So, breast cancer that has spread to the liver will be called stage 4 breast cancer with liver metastasis—not stage 4 liver cancer.

Causes

Cancer diagnosed as stage 4 has spread to an organ or a part of the body away from the original tumor. For this to happen: Cancer cells break away from the tumor. They find their way into the bloodstream or, less often, the lymphatic system—a network that helps transport white blood cells and clear harmful substances from your system. Cells are carried in the blood or lymph fluid to another part of the body. They attach to the tissue there. Once they're attached, the cells grow while simultaneously fighting off the immune system. The cancer's spread will often begin in the same region where the original cells were found. For example, breast cancer may spread to lymph nodes under the arm.

Common ways that cancer metastasizes include:

Stage 4 Cancer and the Lungs Because cancer cells that break away from the original tumor travel through the body via the bloodstream, the lungs are a common site of metastasis since blood always filters through the lungs.

Diagnosing Stage 4 Cancer

Oncologists are doctors who specialize in diagnosing and treating cancer. Many of the same tests and procedures used to diagnose earlier stage cancers can be used to diagnose stage 4 cancer.

Biopsy

A small amount of tissue from the suspected area of spread is removed. This could be something like breast tissue, skin, or even bone marrow.

It is examined under a microscope for signs of abnormal cells.

Imaging Tests

Images make it possible to view the inside of the body to check a tumor. They help to identify where it is, how large it is, and how it's affecting other organs and blood flow.

Tests used to diagnose cancer include:

Lab Tests

Many tests that are run to analyze blood, other body fluids, and biopsied tissues can be used to diagnose cancer.

Endoscopy

Endoscopy is a procedure in which a tube or wire with a small camera attached is used to look at and take pictures of internal organs. Endoscopy might be used to diagnose some cancers, but not others. For example, it may be useful for colorectal cancer, but not lymphoma.

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This procedure can also help guide a practitioner as they perform a biopsy.

Cancer Staging

Stage 4 cancer is the most advanced stage of cancer based on what is known as the TNM system in which aspects of the cancer are graded on a numerical scale. The letters T, N, and M refer to specific features of a cancer: T refers to the size of the tumor and whether it has spread to nearby tissue or organs. The T rating ranges from 0 to 4. refers to the size of the and whether it has spread to nearby tissue or organs. The T rating ranges from 0 to 4. N refers to whether the cancer has spread to lymph nodes. These are scored from 0 to 3. refers to whether the cancer has spread to lymph These are scored from 0 to 3. M stands for metastasis. There are two M stages: M0 means there's no spread, while M1 means cancer cells have metastasized. Taken together, the TNM score will help you and your healthcare team to understand how the cancer has progressed and what treatment options are available. An M score of 1 automatically classifies cancer as stage 4. Still, prognosis of an M1 case varies depending on the T and N classifications of the cancer.

Substages

Some stage 4 cancers have sub-stages. For example, stage 4 prostate cancer may be labeled as stage 4A. This means it has spread to lymph nodes near the site. Stage 4B means the spread is farther away, and the cancer may have reached bones or distant lymph nodes.

Treatment

Stage 4 cancer usually can't be cured. In addition, because it's usually spread throughout the body by the time it's diagnosed, it is unlikely the cancer can be completely removed. The goal of treatment is to prolong survival and improve your quality of life. An oncologist will treat the cancer depending on its type, where it has spread, and other factors. Some of the options include surgery, medication (targeted therapy), immunotherapy, and chemotherapy.

Surgery

Surgery typically is not used to treat stage 4 cancer. However, if the sites of spread are small and there aren't very many of them, they can be removed along with the primary tumor. In these instances, surgery may relieve symptoms and help prevent the cancer from spreading even more.

Targeted Therapy

Some cancer cells can be treated with medications that target specific proteins or genetic mutations. These drugs work in different ways. For example, some help starve a tumor of its blood supply, while others block signals that prompt cancer cells to divide. Testing can determine whether your tumor could respond to any of the available targeted therapy drugs.

Immunotherapy

Immunotherapy relies on drugs that use your immune system, including blood proteins called antibodies, to attack tumor cells. Immunotherapy drugs exist for many types of cancer, including bladder, breast, colon and rectum, kidney, liver, lung, and blood (leukemia, lymphoma, and multiple myeloma).

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HIPEC

Hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy, or HIPEC for short, is a procedure sometimes used after surgery for stage 4 cancer that has spread to the lining of the abdomen. A heated chemotherapy solution is used to bathe the tissue. HIPEC has been shown to improve survival and extend life by as much as 60%.

Palliative Care

Stage 4 cancer treatment often includes palliative care. The goal of palliative care is to improve quality of life and increase comfort. It is provided by a team of healthcare providers and social workers who work with seriously ill patients. It is not hospice or end-of-life care. Rather, palliative care is designed to relieve pain, ease stress, and help a person with advanced cancer to cope with symptoms. Palliative care may be used in stage 4 cancer pain management. One example might be the use of radiation therapy to shrink a tumor that's causing pain or interfering with body functions. This type of care may also include counseling to help people manage mental and emotional issues that arise with chronic or life-threatening illnesses.

Stage 4 Prognosis

Once you're diagnosed with stage 4 cancer, you'll always have stage 4 cancer. But that may not mean that you'll always be sick or that the cancer will kill you. In most cases, how stage 4 cancer is likely to progress (its prognosis) depends on the type of cancer. Some advanced cancers are very aggressive and fast-growing. Some may have fewer treatment options than others. The outlook for these cases is not likely to be positive. However, remember that although stage 4 cancer can't be cured, it isn't necessarily terminal—in other words, it doesn't necessarily mean that the end of life is near. People with stage 4 cancer often live many years after diagnosis, which is why it's more accurate to describe it as "advanced" or "late-stage."

Survival Rates

One aspect of the prognosis for cancer is called relative survival rate. This refers to the overall percentage of people with a certain diagnosis who are likely to live a specific amount of time. This can be further broken down by stages of cancer. The rates for advanced cancers are based on statistics published in the National Cancer Institute's Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program database. SEER does not use TNM to classify cancers. Instead, it uses three stages—localized, regional, and distant—with "distant" generally meaning the same thing as stage 4. It refers to cancer that has spread far beyond the original site.

verywellhealth.com - Stage 4 Cancer: Definition, Diagnosis, Treatment

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