Cancer that has advanced

Each type of cancer has its own pattern of development. Some grow very slowly, others tend to advance rapidly, and some are unpredictable in their behaviour. Some types are known to respond well to treatment in most people, while other types are generally more difficult to treat successfully. Although many early cancers can be cured, there are many people now living with cancer who at some time in the future will die of their disease.

Knowing more about a particular cancer can help make sense of symptoms and the treatments that may be offered.

Advanced cancer is a term commonly used to describe:

• metastatic or secondary cancer that is unlikely to be cured
• primary cancer that is advanced at diagnosis and unlikely to be cured.

Cancer is the name for abnormal cells that divide and multiply uncontrollably. When cancer begins, these cells usually develop into a mass (or tumour ). This mass of cells is known as the primary cancer .

If the primary cancer is not treated, or cannot be treated, a few cancer cells can break away and move through the bloodstream or lymphatic system to other parts of the body. There, they divide and multiply uncontrollably and form other masses of abnormal cells (metastases ). When cancer spreads from the place where it first grew to other parts of the body, where it again begins to grow, it is known as secondary or metastatic cancer.

Advanced cancer usually cannot be cured; however, often it can be treated to slow the growth and spread of the cancer, sometimes for months or years, and reduce its symptoms. Treatment can keep some cancers under control for long periods and is especially helpful in controlling pain.

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Updated March 2005