Question

Thirty percent of patients with kidney cancer have metastasis at the time of diagnosis. Why does this occur?

a. The only treatment modalities for the disease are palliative.
b. Diagnostic tests are not available to detect tumors before they metastasize.
c. Classic symptoms of hematuria and palpable mass do not occur until the disease is advanced.
d. Early metastasis to the brain impairs the patient's ability to recognize the seriousness of symptoms.

Answer 1

Metastasis occurs when cancer cells from a primary tumor spread to other parts of the body through the bloodstream. Different types of cancers tend to metastasize to specific organs, and it is associated with a poorer prognosis in late stages of the disease.

Step-by-step explanation:

Metastasis occurs when cancer cells from a primary tumor spread to other parts of the body through the bloodstream. This can happen because cancer cells have the ability to travel through blood vessels and establish new tumors in different tissues. Different types of cancers tend to metastasize to particular organs, such as the brain, lungs, bones, and liver. The spread of cancer cells through metastasis is associated with the late stages of the disease and is generally associated with a poorer prognosis.