What is metastatic bowel cancer?
Metastatic bowel cancer is cancer that has spread from the back passage (rectum) and large intestines (colon) to other parts of the body, such as the liver.
Sometimes cancer has spread when it is first diagnosed. Or the cancer has come back and spread after treatment for the original cancer.
Cancers that have spread to another part of the body are sometimes called:
- secondary cancer
- metastases
- advanced cancer
Advanced cancer
Doctors might also describe your bowel cancer as advanced if you’re not able to have surgery and the cancer hasn’t spread to another part of your body.
Where bowel cancer spreads
Bowel cancer can spread to the:
- liver
- lungs
- lymph nodes
- tissue lining the tummy (peritoneum)
Locally advanced cancer
Locally advanced cancer means that the cancer has spread into the tissues around the bowel or nearby lymph nodes. It hasn’t spread to other organs. This is different to a metastatic cancer.
How you might feel
Finding out you have a metastatic cancer can be a shock. It’s normal to feel uncertain and anxious and to not be able to think about anything else.
Lots of information and support is available to you and your family and friends. It can help to find out more about your cancer and the treatments you might have. Many people find that knowing more about their situation can make it easier to cope.
Talk to your specialist to understand:
- what your diagnosis means
- what is likely to happen
- what treatment is available
- how treatment can help you
Survival
Many people want to know what the outlook is and how their cancer will develop. This is different for each person. Your cancer specialist has all the information about you and your cancer. They're the best person to discuss this with.
You can also talk to your specialist nurse.
Can doctors cure metastatic cancer?
Treatment for metastatic bowel cancer can keep it under control, relieve symptoms and give you a good quality of life.
In a few people with metastatic bowel cancer, treatment can control the cancer for a long time. And for a small number of these people, a cure might be possible.
