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Advanced cancer
Advanced cancer is cancer that has spread from its primary tumour (original site) to other parts of the body. Often this is a recurrence of cancer that has already been treated. Sometimes, cancer cells can spread or metastasise around the body and produce widespread secondary disease before causing symptoms.
How is it diagnosed?
If you have had cancer before you will probably be having regular checkups. Your doctor will investigate any worrying symptoms you have, and test for cancer in parts of the body where cancers commonly spread. All sorts of tests are used to find out where cancer has spread. Getting as much information about the nature and location of secondary cancer will help the treating doctors decide the most appropriate treatment.
What sort of treatment will I have?
As with all cancers, there are 3 main types of treatment.  Surgery – the cancer is removed Chemotherapy – drugs that destroy or slow the growth of cancer cells Hormone treatments can also be used for certain types of cancers.Treatment can be general or localised and may be used to control symptoms such as pain and obstruction of vital organs or as treatment to remove or reduce the size of the cancer.
Talk openly with your doctor about all the options and their side effects. Discuss what they hope the treatment will achieve, eg relieve symptoms, shrink the cancer, stop it from growing. Express your feelings and thoughts and let them know if you are considering less conventional therapies too.
These topics may be helpful
Find out more
Read Meeting the challenge of advanced cancer
Caring for someone with advanced cancer Cancer - how are you travelling? Understanding the emotional and social impact of cancer from the National Breast and Ovarian Cancer Centre
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