stage 4 – the cancer has spread from where it started to at least 1 other body organ, also known as "secondary" or "metastatic" cancer.
How long can a Stage 4 cancer live?
Although the overall prognosis may be poor based on cases with previous patients and older treatments, many patients with stage 4 cancer can live for years.
Can Stage 4 cancer be cured?
Stage 4 is the most severe stage of cancer. Metastatic cancer is another name for this stage. It conveys that the cancer has metastasized — spread to distant areas of the body.
Is Stage 4 cancer serious?
Because Stage 4 cancer is the most advanced form of the illness, the outlook, or prognosis, is generally not positive. However, while Stage 4 cancer can often be terminal, it is not always terminal; and even when it is terminal, patients can still end up living much longer than expected.