Metastases in uterine cancer

What are metastases in uterine cancer? These are secondary lesions that occur mainly in the last stages of the disease and pose the greatest danger to the patient's body. As a rule, metastases make themselves felt faster than the main tumor. The symptoms of metastasis in uterine cancer vary depending on the extent of the lesion and the affected organs.

The occurrence of metastases in the pelvic lymph nodes may be accompanied by edema of the lower extremities, and, for example, lung metastases in cervical cancer are characterized by coughing and hemoptysis.

There are also common signs of metastasis in cervical cancer: fever, weakness, weight loss, appetite, and others.

Types of metastasis spread

One of the main questions of many patients with this pathology is: where do the metastases go in uterine cancer?

In most cases, secondary lesions grow into the vagina and the body of the uterus, but they can spread to other organs with blood flow. There are liver metastases in cervical cancer, in bones and other areas of the patient's body.

There are preferential ways of metastasis in cervical cancer:

• implantation — spreading through the serous membrane to the peritoneum, pleural cavity, heart sac cavity or meninges;
• lymphogenic is the main type of metastasis spread in uterine cancer. It occurs through the lymph nodes. One of the main signs of lymph node damage is an increase in their size, painful sensations on palpation, and redness;
• Hematogenous is a method of spreading metastases through the blood. It allows you to deliver metastases to any part of the body, thanks to the regular flow of blood pumped by the heart muscle.

Treatment methods

Before starting treatment, specialists prescribe a diagnosis for the patient, which allows them to identify the location of metastases. Such diagnostics may include ultrasound, biopsy, computed tomography and other methods.

According to the results of the diagnosis, doctors choose a method for the treatment of metastases in cervical cancer.

Chemotherapy is especially actively used to eliminate metastases. It is usually used in combination with other treatment methods and is practically ineffective at the last stage of the disease.

Hormone therapy or radiation therapy can also be used to combat this pathology. In some cases, when the lesions are isolated, surgical excision of the tumor is also prescribed. It is also worth noting that stage 4 of the disease may involve the occurrence of distant metastases of cervical cancer. In the vast majority of cases, treatment at this stage is only symptomatic.