Question

Define metastasis. Suggest three early diagnostic symptoms or danger signals of cancer.

Answer 1

The word metastasis provides a hint of being related to spread of something. Diagnostic symptoms are physical or mental features which indicate a medical condition and help in diagnosis of disease.

Complete answer:
The spread of a pathogenic agent from a primary location to a different place within the same body is called metastasis, it is typically used for referring to spread of a cancerous tumour. The new sites are called metastases. When cells are genetically altered, they proliferate rapidly and indefinitely causing cancer. This proliferation is uncontrollable and induced by mitosis, a primary heterogeneous tumour is formed. Eventually, the cells which constitute the tumour undergo metaplasia which is followed by dysplasia and anaplasia. This results in a malignant phenotype. An invasion into the circulation is caused by this malignancy which is then followed by invasion to another location for tumorigenesis. Brain, bones, lungs and liver are included amongst the most common sites for cancers to metastasize. However, it can also develop at the adrenal gland, lymph nodes, and other organs. Metastasis cannot be diagnosed, but cancer can be. It is possible that several people will have no or minimal symptoms. Moreover, cancer symptoms are based on the location of the cancer.

The three early diagnostic symptoms can be:

Brain tumour may include early symptoms such as headache, dizziness, visual problems, speech problems, nausea, difficulty walking or confusion.
Bone cancer, the first sign is breaking bones even with a minor or no injury. Pain may or may not occur. >Severe back pain followed by numbness can also be considered as symptoms of cancer.
Lung cancer includes a cough, blood in cough, chest pain or shortness of breath.

Note: The symptoms are vague. Such symptoms can be related to other problems which are not related to cancer. The symptoms might appear in late stages, a lot of damage might have already been done before their appearance.