What is it called when cancer cells spread from one area of the body to another?

1 Answer
Dec 1, 2017

Metastasis is the spread of cancer cells to new areas of the body often by way of lymph system or bloodstream.

Explanation:

In metastasis cancer cells break away from where they first formed, travel through the blood or lymph system, and form new tumors in other parts of body.

Metastasis is one of the hallmarks of cancer, distinguishing it from from benign tumors. Metastasis is a key element in cancer staging systems, and places a cancer in stage IV. The possibilities of curative treatment are greatly reduced or often entirely removed, when a cancer has metastasised.