Mets - "Neither random or unpredictable"

[Juls]

Just read post re "Forecasting the path of breast cancer in a patient"

I have read about some of the info before but had no idea that metastasis are "neither random nor unpredictable" or that survival depends on where 1st met goes.

Had read somewhere that bone mets have best outcome but don't know why. Yet another report said bone mets difficult to treat! So I am a little confused.

Didn't know about spreaders and spongers either.

The statement that said bone and lungs mets better outcome than bone and liver also confusing, as both lungs and liver are spongers.

Confused and just a little concerned!

[CoolBreeze]

Don't know what you are talking about-link? I assumed bone lived longer because they are not a vital organ like brain, liver, lungs. Bone can cause serious problems but you have to have a lot to cause the metabolic changes that bring on death. Could totally be wrong about that.

I know people alive 20 years after bone met Dx. Far fewer alive ten years after visceral mets. (Although a few).

Am interested in seeing this article.

[Carol Ann]

http://www.scientificcomputing.com/printpdf/news/2015/11/forecasting-metastatic-breast-cancers-path-patient

Here it is. :)

Carol Ann

[Juls]

Hi Cool Breeze
I read this on yesterdays post - Breast Cancer Newsfeed - Forecasting the path of breast cancer in a patient.

Carol Ann
Thanks for finding report!

I knew that bones.brain.lung and liver likely areas for mets. Just didn't realise that 1st area of spread can determine outcome.

[agness]

A better link to the article:

USC: Forecasting the path of breast cancer in a patient
http://www.keck.usc.edu/forecasting-the-path-of-breast-cancer-in-a-patient/