please can someone explain what this is to me as i see it referred to a lot thanks
Hi there Jal,
mets are an abbreviation for metastasis. This is where a cancer has spread beyond the primary site to other organs in the body. Another way of saying it is secondary cancer.
When a cancer develops it is in one area, the “primary” … like with breast cancer. Primary breast cancer is confined to the breast. If it should then spread beyond the breast tissue to, say, the liver, then it is said to be mets, or metastastic and it is the same cancer, just in another organ.
I’m sure others will give you a heaps better explanation, but hope this helps for now.
best regards
x
hi thanks for that its very helpfull.
what are chances of it spreading then is this when lymph glands effected.
secondary cancer does this soread from primary cancer i am getting really confused. thanks so far.
julie.xxx
Hi Julie,
Just because lymph glands are affected does not mean it has spread to other organs, please don’t panic yourself by reading too much info at once.
It can all be very confusing and you would be much better advised to ring one of the BCC helplines as they have nurses who can answer your questions in more detail, and alay some of your fears.
Love
Val
x
hi there Julie
secondary cancer is where the primary cancer has spread. Not sure what the stats are on the chances of it spreadig, but, the first port of call is the lymph system, and therefore the lymph nodes. The earlier the cancer is caught the easier the treatment. If it is small, in situ (that just means contained in one area) with no lymph node involvement then it is far easier to treat.
As a cancer develops it “invades” the tissue surrounding it - i liken it to pushing out little roots almost. It is then that the chances of the lymph nodes being involved increases. where the cancer cells go along the lymph system. Different cancers have different organs that they are particularly attracted to, where these stray cells set up home. In breast cancer I believe the main sites to be liver, bone, brain and lungs - other cancers settle in other organs.
The main point is you cannot have a secondary cancer, or metastic cancer UNLESS there is a primary. Quite often, if they find a secondary they can pinpoint the primary site by the cells they find there - but not always.
again, i know others will be much better informed than me on this, but hope it makes sense to you, Julie
best regards
Ruth
x x x
wow ruth you know so much and its helping me to understand i womder could you answer this q what is dcis and the other one people keep talking about. all i know at mo is mine is invasive duct cancer so not sure anymore dont know what grade or anything else. perhaps now i am finding out a bit more i can understand more what all these people r going through thanks again
julie.
Hi Julie
I’ve just read your post about what is DCIS (it’s ductal carcinoma in-situ) which means that the cells lining the milk ducts are cancerous, but are kept within the ducts without spreading into the surrounding breast tissue. It can also be described as pre-cancerous, pre-invasive, non-invasive, or intraductal cancer.
I’ve read a few of your posts and I just wonder whether you’ve got a breast care nurse who you can talk to face to face about any worries you have? I’m sure she would be able to talk to you about your diagnosis and be able to alleviate some of the concerns you have or ring Breast Cancer Care as they will also be able to help you.
It’s very easy to scare yourself when you read some of the postings here but it doesn’t necessarily mean that the same is going to happen to you.
Hope this helps.
Pinkdove
to pink dove.
thank you for your reply. i must admit one thing leads onto another and one minute i feel good about it next i am scared stiff. there is so much to learn and everyone on here knows so much i feel like an outsider. thank you for all info so if i have invasive duct its not dcis. so when i read all these threads noone seems to mention invasive cancer its all dcis. i am going to see my breast care nurse tomorrow and i have lots to ask. probably b there all day haha…
take care xxxxxxxxx
Hi,
I was diagnosed with invasive ductal breast cancer, grade 3 in jan 04, my understanding is that a high percentage of breast cancers are invasive ductal…though if i’m wrong on that someone please correct me.
Make a list of everything you want to know to take with you tomorrow…if your anything like me you’l forget half the things you want answers to when you get there!!
karen x
H there Julie,
good to hear that you’re going to see your breast care nurse tomorrow - she will be able to give you so much more information. You can order leaflets from this site too, and I really recommend the primary cancer resource pack.
Within a surprisingly short time you’l be well used to these new terms and words - it’s a very steep learning curve though!
Just keep taking it slowly and carefully.
best regards
Ruth
x x x
Hi Julie
If you would like a copy of the primary cancer resource pack which quisie refers to above just follow the link below:
breastcancercare.org.uk//content.php?page_id=7514
The pack has been designed for those newly diagnosed and is free of charge as are all our publications.
I hope you find this useful
Kind regards
Katie
Moderator
Breast Cancer Care
thank you i have returned from breast care nurse who helped me decide on mastectomy and immediate reconstruction. i asked what size tumor grade etc and she couldn’t help said i could have a copy of my histology report if i wanted but i felt too shy to ask…i think i felt silly as the tumor has been removed so its gone y do i need to know… they found two small spots in safety zone so now having mastectomy. should i ask again as everyone on here seems to know so much or am i just worrying myself…
Hi there Julie
good to hear that you’ve spoken to your Breast Care Nurse and have been able to reach a decision. The histology report isn’t really too important and, unless you have someone to go through it with you then it could be way too much.
In regards to us knowing stuff - I know that before BC I knew precious little, but I read and read and read. The best things, I found, were the publications from this site - try the link Katie gave. All the publications are free and arrive in just a few days. The beauty is you can pick them up and look at as much or as little as you want. Cancer backup ( www.cancerbackup.org.uk/Cancertype/Breast ) also do some very good publications too. Be wary what you read on the web though, pick sites where you know the name. Also, pick just the publications that matter to you.
Best of luck ordering your leaflets!
regards
Ruth
x x x
hi Ruth.
i cant thank everyone enough for help i have been given so far. i am going to set a time aside tomorrow after my MRI scan and go through all links people have mentioned. I think it will be good to have leaflets to hand that relate to my problems and not general BC. I also agree, i enjoy reading and find it fascinating now i have it but i must not go into it too much or i shall worry too much.
tale care. xxxxxxxxxxx