Metastasis is the spread of cancer from one part of the body to another. It usually occurs during the later stages of cancer. Metastasis is a complex process in which cancer cells break away from the original tumor, travel through the bloodstream or lymphatic system, and form new tumors in other parts of the body.
What Causes Metastasis?
Metastasis is caused by a combination of factors that allow cancer cells to spread to new sites in the body. These include genetic changes in the cancer cells that make them resistant to normal controls on cell growth, changes in the cells that make them better able to migrate and invade other tissues, and changes in the tissue that make it more hospitable to tumor growth.
What Stage of Cancer Does Metastasis Occur In?
Metastasis typically occurs in the late stages of cancer, when the tumor has grown large enough to spread to other parts of the body. In some cases, metastasis can occur even before cancer cells can be detected in the primary tumor site. This is known as "occult metastasis." In these cases, the cancer has already spread to other parts of the body before it can be detected in the primary tumor.
