In cancer, cells grow out of control. They can start in one place in the body and then spread to another, but does this happen quickly or slowly? How fast does cancer spread in the body?

How fast cancer spreads in the body

Cancers spread over years or decades in the body. In general, the rate at which cancer spreads in the body varies from one cancer to another. Therefore, it is not possible to generalize.

Examples of slow-spreading cancers

Among the most notable are the following:

• some breast cancers; Ex: estrogen receptor (ER) positive breast cancer and protein negative (HER2) breast cancer.
• Chronic lymphocytic leukemia.
• Colon and rectal cancers.
• Most types of prostate cancer.



✅ Many slow-growing cancers may not need treatment, and in many cases, doctors recommend waiting and watching, and appropriate action is taken based on progress.

Examples of fast-spreading cancers

Among the most notable are the following:

• Acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
• AML.
• Some types of breast cancer, such as: inflammatory breast cancer and triple negative breast cancer.
• Large B-cell lymphoma.
• Lung cancer.
• rare prostate cancers; Like lymphoma or small cell carcinoma.

✅ Having a rapidly spreading cancer does not necessarily mean that the patient will be in a bad situation, but rather that the chance of detecting it before it spreads is small.

How cancer spreads in the body

Cancer cells spread in the body through growth in nearby tissues, or through the lymphatic system or blood vessels, when cancer spreads, some of the primary cancer cells disintegrate and then move to another part of the body to start growing. on the new site 

Ways to prevent the spread of cancer in the body

The spread of cancer in the body can be prevented when it is detected in its early stages; Cancer treatments (such as chemotherapy, hormone therapy or immunotherapy, and surgery) are used to control a cancerous tumor and reduce the chance that it will spread throughout the body.

Frequent questions

Can cancers be treated after they have spread?

Treatment of cancers after they have spread is aimed at slowing their growth and relieving symptoms, since treating the cancer completely can be difficult and the patient may live for months or years after the disease has spread.

What are the most common sites of cancer spread?

The most common places in the body for cancer to spread include the lungs, liver, bones, and brain.

How can you be sure of the spread of cancer in the body?

The spread of cancer in the body is confirmed by doctors who perform imaging tests to take pictures of body parts from the inside, as well as take a sample of tissue and submit it to a laboratory test (biopsy).