Lung cancer, even when reached the metastatic stage might not show any symptoms when it is diagnosed. These types of cancer is usually identified when a chest X-ray is performed incidentally for another reason. The cancer is said to have reached the metastatic once it starts spreading into different parts of the body. It spreads with the help of lymph nodes. Once the malignant (cancerous) cells enters into the blood stream, they spread to the different parts of the body and start forming a cancerous tissue. This type of cancer is said to be metastatic and is usually referred to as stage IV lung cancer.

There are a number of symptoms that could indicate a possible development of metastatic lung cancer in a body:

A person who experiences any of these symptoms should not ignore and get a medical health check-up done.

Its general symptoms include cough, coughing up blood, or cough that contains traces of blood. Other general symptoms include fatigue, unexplained weight loss, reoccurring respiratory infections, shortness of breath and hoarseness in voice.

If a cough gets worse with time, then it should be examined by a health care provider. Hemoptysis or coughing up blood occurs in a significant number of people who eventually get diagnosed with lung cancer. Hence this should also be evaluated by a healthcare provider.

Shortness of breath is one of the common symptoms that many people diagnosed with lung cancer experience. The pain they experience might be dull, aching and persistent.
Symptoms of metastatic lung cancer depends on how severely the disease has spread and also the location of cancer.

Metastatic lung cancer most often spreads to the bones, the brain and the liver.

It causes yellowing of the skin and eyes if it has spread in the liver. Although, it may not cause any noticeable symptoms even at the time when it is diagnosed.

When the metastatic lung cancer spreads to the bones, it causes bone pain. The person might usually feel the pain in spine, thigh bones and the ribs.

If the metastatic lung cancer has spread to the brain then it causes difficulties such as headache, feeling weak on one side of the body, and seizures.

Do you have to make annoying trips to the bathroom every night, and more than once or twice? An increase in bathroom runs during the night could be the initial signs of having an enlarged prostate problem. If one cannot sit even on a short plane flight without rushing to the washroom or sit through an entire meeting, then they might be suffering from enlarged prostate, or benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH), as the condition is medically known as. As per the NKUDIC (National Kidney and Urological Disease Information Clearinghouse), an enlarged prostate is the most common problem of the prostate among men over the age of 50. Again, as per the AUA (American Urological Association) statistics, almost 50% of men above the age of 60 have BPH, a number which climbs to 90% as men reach the age of 85 years.

Signs and symptoms
Some of the enlarged prostate symptoms include trouble beginning urine, dribbling or leaking. The major trouble is that the nightly bathroom runs become more frequent, making their way into daytime routine. Also, enlarged prostate symptoms could become worse if one is under emotional or physical stress or during cold weather. Enlarged prostate symptoms can be divided into two categories.

• Symptoms related to bladder emptying: These include pain during urination (dysuria), an urge to urinate all the time, sometimes soon after having urinated, getting the feeling that the bladder isn’t completely empty, dribbling after urination, decreased urine strength (weak urine flow), and difficulty (straining, hesitancy) in beginning a urine stream.
• Symptoms related to bladder storage: These symptoms include an uncontrollable, sudden urge to urinate, occurrence of frequent urination and waking up in the middle of the night to urinate frequently (nocturia).

When these enlarged prostate symptoms (a.k.a. lower urinary tract symptoms) occur, they could range from being barely noticeable and mild to being disruptive and serious. Also, the severity of the symptoms does not dictate the amount of prostate enlargement.

Treatment
Treatments for enlarged prostate include medications, minimally-invasive procedures and surgery. Going about choosing one treatment largely depends on one’s symptoms, the severity of the symptoms, one’s age and medical conditions. While the AUA says that surgery does the best job, the risks are also more. Medications include Alpha Blockers (which relieve the symptoms rather than reduce the prostate size) and 5-Alpha reductase inhibitors (partially shrink the prostate by reducing levels of the male hormone DHT).

Minimally-invasive treatments include TUMT (transurethral microwave thermotherapy that reduces moderate to mild blockage, intermittent flow, straining, urgency, urinary frequency but does not correct bladder-emptying), TUNA (transurethral radio frequency needle ablation which destroys prostate tissue to relive symptoms and enables better urine flow) and rostatic stents (metal coils inserted in urethra to keep it open). Surgery includes TURP (transurethral resection of the prostate, most common surgery), TUIP (transurethral incision of the prostate, cutting prostate tissue), laser surgery and prostatectomy.

Prostate cancer is a result of cells in the prostate gland that start to grow uncontrollably. Situated below the bladder and in front of the rectum, the prostate gland is found only in males and is responsible for making semen. When the malignant (or cancerous) cells in the prostate reach stage IV, it is medically referred to as metastatic.

Metastatic cancer usually spreads through bones and lymph nodes. Once spread in the lymph nodes, they start spreading in liver and lungs. It is rarer for these cancer cells to move to the other parts of the body, such as the brain.

If the prostate cancer spreads to the hip bone, it is not bone cancer, It is still prostate cancer. It contains the same prostate cancer cells that the original tumor had.

Nature of the spreading of cancer
Metastatic cancer cells sometimes break away from the original tumor and go to a blood lymph vessel. Once they enter the lymph vessel, they can easily move through any part of the body. These metastatic cells stop in blood capillaries and some tiny blood vessels at a distant location.
The metastatic cells then break through the wall of the blood vessel and get fused to any nearest tissue that they can find. Once attached to the tissue, they multiply and grow new blood vessels in order to bring nutrients to the so formed new tumor.

Prostate cancer cells prefer to grow at specific locations such as lymph nodes, ribs, pelvic bones, and the spines.

The dreadful fact about metastatic prostate cancer is that most of these cells that form into new tumors may not survive in the blood stream, some die while forming into a new tissue and some may lie inactive in the bloodstream over the years without showing any symptoms before they become active.

Diagnosis of metastatic prostate cancer
When diagnosing for prostate cancer, doctors will order tests such as X-rays, CT scans, MRI scans, and PET scans. These tests usually focus at the skeletal level, belly, and pelvic areas. These suggest sign of the extent to which the cancer has spread.

The doctors will also ask for blood tests, including to check the PSA (Prostate Specific Antigen) levels. Rise in the PSA levels is one of the first signs of the fact that the cancer may be growing.

On an average, it takes at least a decade from the time a patient is first diagnosed with prostate cancer to the discovery that it has become metastatic. Thus, it is necessary to lead a healthy lifestyle and get regular health checkups to avoid such fatal complications in the future.

Prostate cancer that has reached its stage IV or metastatic state is treatable but unfortunately not curable. Metastatic prostate cancer can usually be treated by standard therapies such as hormone therapy, immunotherapy, and chemotherapy. Using these treatments over a period of time, metastatic prostate cancer can be controlled for several years.

Hormone therapy
The simple theory behind the treatment through hormone therapy is that it deprives a man’s body of male hormones that are necessary for prostate cancer cells to grow. The treatment of hormone therapy, initially can be achieved with orchiectomy, which means removal of one or both the testicles, or luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) analogues solely or in combination with an anti-androgen.

Chemotherapy
Just like hormone therapy, chemotherapy is a systematic therapy in which the cancer-fighting drug circulates in the blood and to the parts of the body where the cancer may have spread. It can also kill or eliminate cancer cells at sites that are at great distances from the original cancer. Conventional chemotherapy drugs that are available for the treatment can have serious side-effects including loss of immunity, loss of hair, nausea, etc. because the drugs used in chemotherapy kill all kinds of cells that come in its way.
As a result, in the recent times, several new chemotherapy and targeted therapy drugs have been developed to treat the metastatic stage of cancer with minimal side effects and damage to normal, healthy cells.

Immunotherapy
Immunologic therapy, or immunotherapy, is sometimes referred to as biological therapy. Biological therapy is a type of treatment that helps improving body’s allover immune system. This in turn facilitates in killing the cancer cells. The types of biological therapy or immunotherapy include interleukin, monoclonal antibodies, cytokines (colony stimulating factors), interferon, and vaccines.

Treating bone complications
Patients with advanced stage of prostate cancer might have cancer cells spread in their bones (usually hip bone or pelvis). This is called as bone metastases. Bone metastases usually cause immense pain in that region and increases the risk of fractures. The condition can further lead to life-threatening conditions which is characterized by increased level of calcium in the blood, called as hypercalcemia. Its treatment might include drug therapy or radiation therapy.

Radiotherapy
Radiotherapy or radiation therapy is done to provide ease from bone metastases which a byproduct of metastatic prostate cancer. In this therapy, high intensity X-ray beams are incident directly over the affected bone.

Male breast cancer is just as rare as it sounds, only it’s real. Of all the breast cancers, one percent of occurs in men. The causes and risk factors are similar as in any breast cancer in women. There are no defined causes for breast cancer but there are certain risk factors that increase the chances/risk of getting cancer in men and women. To prevent and/or cure cancer, we must know the risk factors, causes, symptoms, and treatments.

Coming to statistics, breast cancer has taken 0.22 % deaths of all cancers in men. The survival rate in both, men and women, breast cancer is on the rise to state a positive note.
Certain risk factors for male breast cancer include men having enlarged breasts with the increase of breast tissue in them and can find a small tissue that feels like a button, under the areola. This could be a condition of gynecomastia.

Similar to gynecomastia, Klinefelter syndrome is another condition that comes across as a risk factor for breast cancer in men. This condition is a rare genetic problem. The X chromosome is extra in men when they have this condition. Smaller testicles and enlarges breasts are the results of Klinefelter syndrome and if one feels he has that condition, then he must visit the doctor.

If there is a family history on breast cancer or genetic mutation (which is an event that changes the genetic structure in the body), it can increase the risk of breast cancer in men.

Survival rate in male breast cancer is rising because of the symptoms people notice. Dimpling of the skin on the breast tissues can be one of the early symptoms of breast cancer. Puckering of the skin around the breast area is another symptom of breast cancer.

If you notice anything difference in the nipples, such as, retraction, discharge, or if you notice redness or scaling of the breast skin, then take this matter to a doctor and up on prescription and get a diagnosis done so you can start with the cure. Pain in the nipple or sensitive nipples can also be one of the symptoms.

The early stages of breast cancer are curable and the later stages are fatal. Therefore, if you notice anything unusual or direct symptoms, get yourself checked medically. Awareness of male breast cancer is also important for people to look out for signs of the same disease.

Anyone who has a breast tissue can develop breast cancer. However, not many even know that male breast cancer exists. Male breast cancer is a rare disease as women suffer from breast cancer the most, but it does occur in men too.
Older men are more prone to male breast cancer but it can occur at any age. Just like most types of cancers, male breast cancer too can be cured if diagnosed at an early stage. But since it’s a rare disease, many people don’t take the symptoms seriously to get themselves checked.

According to some statistics based on a study on cancer, nearly 2,470 cases of breast cancer in men are likely to get diagnosed by the end of 2017. This type of cancer carries a chance of one in one thousand among men in America.

Similar to any other cancers, male breast cancer too has four stages where its curable up till the second stage and involves brain, lungs, liver, and bone by the fourth stage making the illness fatal.

Breast size in men is smaller as compared to women and that makes it easy to diagnose cancer or tumor in male breasts, but the tumor can be confused with general stiffness of the chest. Men under 35 rarely suffer from breast cancer. It usually affects older men, but not always.

There are certain risk factors of cancer in male breasts that include breast cancer in a close female relative, consuming estrogen, exposure to radiation in the chest area, liver disease (if severe can cause breast cancer), and testicle disease(s).

The seriousness of breast cancer in men was thought to be higher as compared to breast cancer in women; however, it turned out to be the same in both cases. The only reason some considered it more fatal was because the symptoms of men breast cancer is not known or recognized easily. The hardness of the chest/breast in men makes it hard to recognize any dissimilar stiffness in case of tumor leading to ignorance towards the symptoms and reaching the later stage of male breast cancer.

Mammogram; breast ultrasound; MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) of the breast; nipple discharge exam; biopsy: fine needle aspiration biopsy, core needle biopsy, surgical biopsy, lymph node biopsy, lymph node dissection, and sentinel lymph node biopsy are some of the exams done to examines and evaluate breast cancer or disease related to the breast.

Advanced or stage IV breast cancer is termed as metastatic breast cancer. This is when the cancer  spreads from the breast to other organs of the body such as the lungs, brain, or even the bones. Although the cancer has spread to the bones and the lungs, the treatment is still carried out by the same breast cancer killing drugs. It has been estimated that over 250,000 women in the U.S are diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer annually. Another noteworthy feature of the metastatic breast cancer is that it occurs in people who have once undergone full treatment for the other three stages of cancer (1, 2 or 3). The people who fully recover from breast cancer can also get diagnosed with the metastatic version after a few months or years of their treatment. This phenomenon is called distant recurrence.

Symptoms of metastatic breast cancer
Metastasis is all about the spreading of cancer cells. Metastatic breast cancer signs are not only localized to the breasts but affect the parts of the body (which are possibly infected) as well.  Most common symptom can be diagnosed upon self-examination. These may include lumps visible on the surface of the breasts or in your underarm, nipple discharge (the process of discharge of fluid from the nipples) when pressed or not, bone pain and fractures, decrease in stamina, cough, extreme fatigue, etc. Some people also experience Increased abdominal girth (this is a measurement of the distance around your abdomen), swollen feet and hands, memory loss, headaches, blurry vision, and the like.

Metastatic breast cancer treatments
Metastatic breast cancer can be treated by one or a combination of the following treatments.

Anti-estrogen treatment
Also known as endocrine treatment, this treatment includes, SERM (Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators). These compounds hinder estrogen from stimulating cells of the breasts. This is carried out by ingesting a pill orally. Side effects include hot flashes and uterine bleeding.

Aromatase inhibitors
These are agents which reduce the estrogen levels by blocking the protein that’s responsible for estrogen secretion inside the ovaries. Side effects include bone loss and bone fractures.

Pure anti-estrogen
These compounds block the impact of estrogen on the cancer-affected breast cells. These compounds are injected monthly. Side effects include hot flashes and pain at the injected site.

Sex steroid hormones
These include estrogens, progestins, and androgens. These agents are employed only in the third or fourth line of treatment.

Chemotherapy
This is the process of slowing down the growth of cancer cells. It’s done in a cyclic manner. A cycle is the amount of time required to carry out the procedure and letting the body recover from the side effects of the drugs used. A typical cycle lasts from three to four weeks.