A cancer’s stage describes how far it has spread. Different systems for staging cancer differ slightly, but most use a combination of tests and information from an individual’s medical history.
A person’s prognosis is how long they are expected to live with a certain diagnosis. This is typically based on five-year survival rates from groups of people who are treated for the same type of cancer at the same stage of progression. But every person’s prognosis is a little bit different, because they have a unique set of circumstances, like their age and other health conditions.
If a patient has been diagnosed with stage 4 cancer, that means the cancer has already spread from its original site to distant parts of the body. This is also sometimes called metastasis cancer or advanced cancer. Cancer that has reached this stage may be diagnosed years after the original cancer diagnosis, or after the primary cancer has been treated or removed.
Cancer cells spread when they break away from their original tumors, and enter the bloodstream or lymphatic system. From here they travel to other parts of the body, where they settle and grow. These new cancer cells may cause symptoms or not, depending on which organs are affected and how much the cancer has grown.
While it doesn’t happen very often, it is possible to have a remission from cancer that has reached this stage. This is especially true for mesothelioma, which can be difficult to treat when it reaches this stage, but some patients have even been able to beat the disease after it has reached stage 4.
When a person gets a diagnosis of stage 4 cancer, they should know that their outlook is not good. This is a terminal stage of cancer, meaning that the cancer is unlikely to go into remission. However, there are many treatments available to slow or stop the cancer’s progression, manage symptoms or complications, and improve a person’s quality of life.
For people with this advanced cancer, treatment will usually involve chemotherapy and other drugs, but some people may also receive radiation or surgery. People with stage 4 cancer should always talk to their healthcare providers about what options are available for them. They can help explain what the specific treatment plan is and answer any questions that a person might have about their prognosis. Avoid asking personal questions about how long a person might have, or how they might be feeling, but do ask them about their experiences with their cancer and how it has affected their lives.
