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What is the process called when cancer spreads to secondary sites in the body?

  1. Remission

  2. Metastasis

  3. Proliferation

  4. Invasion

The correct answer is: Metastasis

The process of cancer spreading to secondary sites in the body is known as metastasis. This occurs when cancer cells break away from the original (primary) tumor and travel through the bloodstream or lymphatic system to form new tumors in other organs or tissues. Metastasis is a crucial aspect of cancer progression, as it often indicates a more advanced stage of the disease, making it harder to treat. In contrast, remission refers to a reduction or disappearance of signs and symptoms of cancer, not the spread of the disease. Proliferation refers to the rapid increase in the number of cells, which may happen in the context of tumor growth but does not specifically describe the spreading process. Invasion typically refers to the local spread of cancer cells into nearby tissues but does not encompass the concept of reaching distant sites in the body. Thus, metastasis accurately captures the complete process of cancer's spread to secondary locations.