Advanced cancer is cancer that has grown beyond the organ where it first started. Often it has spread widely throughout the body (called metastatic cancer). Advanced cancer is not always metastatic cancer. But sometimes cancer that has not spread is considered locally advanced if it is affecting a vital organ and can’t be removed. Even if there is no cure, treatment can sometimes shrink the cancer, help relieve symptoms, and help you live longer. Some people can live many years with advanced cancer.

Every person's cancer is unique. Your cancer may respond differently to treatments and grow at a different rate than the same cancer in someone else. For some people, the cancer may already be advanced when they first learn they have the disease. Other people develop advanced cancer after years of treatment. In most cases advanced cancer develops after you have had cancer for some time and treatment is no longer stopping its growth. Symptoms then get worse and treatments are needed to help control them. These symptoms can almost always be treated.

Last Medical Review: 01/28/2009
Last Revised: 01/28/2009