Stage 4 Cancer Prognosis

Cancer is a disease where a particular group of cells in the body grow in an uncontrolled manner at an abnormal pace. These cancerous cells invade the nearby healthy tissues and often metastasize or spread to other parts of the body, through the blood or lymph. Though most of the types of cancer start with a benign tumor, leukemia is the only exception. Oncology is that branch of medicine that deals with the study, diagnosis, treatment and prevention of cancer. The severity or progression of cancer can be described in five stages (including stage 0);

• Stage 0: The cancerous cells are present at the place of development, and haven't yet begun metastasis.
• Stage 1: The cancer has spread only in one part of the body. This stage is also called carcinoma in situ.
• Stage 2: This is the stage where the cancer has advanced in the lymph nodes on one side of the diaphragm.
• Stage 3: The third stage is more severe than the second stage as the cancer has affected the other lymph nodes and has begun spreading to other organs in the body.
• Stage 4: This is the final stage of cancer, where the carcinoma has completely metastasized or spread throughout the body and the condition cannot be reversed.

The stages of any type of cancer describe the extent of the seriousness of the spread of this deadly disease. Of all the stages, the fourth stage of cancer is extremely serious in nature and there is no medication available to treat this stage. To determine the presence and type of cancer, the individual may have to undergo biopsy, where a sample from the tumor is taken and studied. Though there are certain methods like chemotherapy, radiation and other drugs for other stages in order to reduce the spread of cancer, there is no proper cancer treatment for the fourth and final stage of this dreaded disease.

Stage 4 Lung Cancer Prognosis

Lung cancer can start as a benign tumor, in either lung, that may become malignant and spread to the entire lung. There are four different stages of lung cancer, that depend on the spread of tumors. The initial stages of prognosis include the use of diagnostic imaging, where the activities of the lungs are observed. The individual may also have to undergo CT and MRI scan. The last or final stage lung cancer is severe in nature as the carcinoma has metastasized from the chest to other organs in the body. The prognosis for lung cancer's last stage means the chance for reducing the severity of the disease and prolongation of survival of the affected individual. The prognosis depends upon the type of lung cancer, the size of the tumor, the locations to where it has spread and the overall health of the patient. The small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is the most aggressive of all lung cancers, where the life expectancy is barely two to four months. Another type of lung cancer is the non small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), in which only the smallest of tumors can be removed surgically. As compared to other cancers, the overall prognosis of lung cancer is poor and the survival rate of lung cancer is lower than other cancers.

Stage 4 Colon Cancer Prognosis

Bowel cancer, also known as colon cancer affects the colon, rectum and appendix. The colon cancer, which is also called the colorectal or Duke's D colon cancer is the most severe in the final stage, where it has advanced and spread to the lymph nodes and other parts of the body, commonly to the liver. The prognosis of the end stage of colon cancer depends on the outcome of the disease, the type and location of the tumors and the stages of diagnosis. The patient's age, health condition and response to the treatment provided are all considered during the prognosis. However, the outcome of the disease will vary according to the affected individual. The prognosis depends on the stages of colon cancer, the location and type of the cancer. These factors are taken into consideration while assessing the disease and methods of treatment. During the last stage, chemotherapy for colon cancer and radiation might be considered to reduce the severity and increase the colon cancer life expectancy. The colon cancer survival rate depends upon the stage of cancer and the survival rate is only 8 percent for the fourth stage.

Stage 4 Liver Cancer Prognosis

Though medical technology has advanced, liver cancer cannot be treated completely. There are four stages of liver cancer, with the formation of a tumor in the liver in the initial stages. In the second and third stages, the cancerous tumor penetrates the blood vessels forming small tumors, which tend to increase in size. The fourth and final stage is called the metastasized liver cancer, since the carcinoma has spread to the entire liver and has destroyed the function of the organ. The doctor may advice the patient to have a liver cancer prognosis to diagnose the disease and predict the outcome. The type of disease is also helpful in the metastatic liver cancer prognosis as it determines the origin of the cancer. As in the case of secondary liver cancer, where the cancer may originate in the bowel, stomach or pancreas and spread to the liver. An early detection of the cancer will be beneficial to stop the spread of this disease and undergoing a liver transplant can increase the liver cancer survival rate.

Stage 4 Brain Cancer Prognosis

The brain is the most important organ of the body and the center of the nervous system. Sometimes, due to abnormal growth of cells in the brain, brain tumors are formed. Brain tumors, if not diagnosed in time, can result in brain cancer. According to oncologists, brain cancer is one of the deadliest types of cancer. It is essential to detect the presence of this lethal disease in its early stages, as stage 4 brain cancer may lead to very less chances of survival for the patient. The factors that affect the stage 4 cancer prognosis are age, especially if the person is under 60 years of age, previous medical history, the location of the brain tumors and the response to the treatment administered. However the prognosis of metastatic brain cancer is quite poor, since the cases differ due to various outcomes. The brain cancer survival rate is 33 percent and the life expectancy is 1 to 2 years, but in most cases it is fatal, as there is no proper cure for one of the worst types of cancers.

Stage 4 Stomach Cancer Prognosis

Gastric cancer, more commonly known as stomach cancer occurs due to an abnormal growth of cells in the inner lining of the stomach. People who eat foods rich in spices and salt, pickled or smoked foods, consumption of alcohol and tobacco and a family history of gastritis are more prone to stomach cancer. People who are above 60 years of age are the common victims of this cancer and is observed more in men. Gastric or stomach cancer prognosis mainly depends on the stages of cancer, the age and the general health condition of the patient. The survival rates, when the condition is diagnosed in the initial stages, depends on the location and spread of the cancer in the stomach. Studies have shown that the survival rate of the patient is up to 50 percent, if the cancer is diagnosed early. But sadly, only 10 to 15 percent of the cases are diagnosed in the initial stages. The overall five year survival rate of stomach cancer is roughly 20 percent.

Stage 4 Pancreatic Cancer Prognosis

Pancreatic cancer occurs due to the genetic mutation of cells in the pancreas leading to uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells. It is very hard to detect pancreatic cancer in the early stages as the symptoms do not surface till the cancer has reached advanced stage. One of the most dangerous stages of pancreatic cancer is the stage 4 of this harmful disease, where it becomes difficult to surgically remove the cancer as it tends to spread to the distant organs like the liver and the lungs. The end stage cancer prognosis method for this cancer is not exact, as it is difficult to predict the symptoms which may lead to the end stage pancreatic cancer. The chances of survival are very less as only 15 percent of the patients diagnosed with pancreatic cancer are able to survive for roughly five years after the diagnosis.

Stage 4 Ovarian Cancer Prognosis

Ovarian cancer is a result of the development of genetic mutations in the cells, which may be inherited or random. This may cause the cells in the ovaries to grow at an abnormal rate. Ovarian cancer prognosis depends on the characteristics of the cancerous cells. The severity of the cancer can be determined by staging. In the first stage, the cancer has not spread beyond the ovaries. In the second and third stages, the cancer has spread throughout the pelvis and into the lymph nodes and abdomen. Stage 4 ovarian cancer indicates that the cancer has metastasized and has spread into the lungs and liver. Without proper treatment, it is difficult to have a stage 4 cancer prognosis since the symptoms of ovarian cancer may vary. The age of the individual, general health condition and response to the treatment play a major role in the prognosis of ovarian cancer. The survival rates of this disease are not very encouraging, as only 35 percent of the women are cured of cancer. The main reason is the absence of screening tests and the late detection that reduces the life expectancy and diminishes the chances of survival to near impossible. Other complications that arise due to ovarian cancer are kidney problems, blockage in the intestines and inability to eat. To increase the ovarian cancer survival rate, it is necessary to monitor the health and report any changes in the body to a gynecologist.

Stage 4 Prostate Cancer Prognosis

Prostate is a gland, shaped like a walnut, in the male reproductive system that helps in the secretion of seminal fluid. Sometimes the prostate gets enlarged due to some uncontrolled cell division, leading to tumorous outgrowths in the gland, resulting in prostate cancer. The cancer is divided into stages, namely, local stage, regional stage and distant stage, depending on the severity of the destruction of cells. The last stage i.e the stage 4 prostate cancer is the stage where the cancer has metastasized from the seminal vesicles (the ducts that carry the semen) to other organs of the body. Sometimes the cancer also invades the bones. The growth rate of prostate cancer is rather slow when compared to other cancers. The early symptoms of prostate cancer are usually unnoticeable in most of the cases. Factors like genetics and diet are responsible for the development of this cancer. For the prognosis of the final stage of cancer, the individual may have to undergo certain diagnostic tests like Digital Rectal Exam (DRE) and Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA). The methods of treatment are radiation, surgery called radical prostatectomy, a procedure where the affected prostate and the nearby tissues are removed surgically, and certain medications. The prostate cancer survival rate depends on the causes and treatment of prostate cancer. The survival rate in the local and regional stages is 100 percent, whereas in the distant stage it is only 31 percent. Though the advanced stage of prostate cancer may be difficult to cure, with the help of effective treatment, the life expectancy of the patient can be increased to approximately 10 years.

Though a permanent cure for cancer has not yet been discovered, due to many modern technologies and medications, survival rate of stage 4 cancer and the life expectancy of a patient can be increased, to some extent.