We are with you Sonali…Don’t lose hope

As we all know one of the gorgeous actresses of bollywood Sonali Bendre is now suffering from cancer and is having her treatment done in New York. Sonali took to Twitter to share how "life throws you a curveball" when you least expect it.

Through an Instagram post, Sonali Bendre shared that she has been suffering from cancer which has been metastasized. However, she did not reveal which form of cancer it was. Along with the post, Sonali has shared her photos where she looks all vibrant and confident about her victory in the battle against cancer.

But, what is metastatic cancer? What are the symptoms and how can you identify it? According to professionals, cancer is typically labelled in stages from I to IV, with IV being the most serious.

•    A grade 1 cancer cell will look normal and won’t grow rapidly.
•    A grade 2 cancer cell doesn’t resemble a normal cell and grow faster than a normal cell.
•    A grade 3 or high grade cancer cell looks abnormal and may grow more aggressively.

What is metastasis?

Metastasis is the medical term which is used for cancer that spreads to different parts of the body from where it initiated. It basically happens when cancer cells tears away from the main tumor and make their way to bloodstream or lymphatic system that in turn carries fluid in the body. These cancer cells can travel and form new tumors in different parts of the body.

For example, breast cancer that spreads to the lung is called metastatic breast cancer, not lung cancer. It will be treated as stage IV breast cancer, not as lung cancer.

How to identify metastatic cancer?

It is very difficult to identify the symptoms of metastatic cancer as it always does not cause any direct discomfort. However, the common causes depend on the size and location of the tumor. Here are a few symptoms you must take note of:

•    Pain or fracture, if the muscles or bones are affected
•    Headache, seizure or nausea, if it affects the brain
•    If cancer reaches the lungs, it can cause shortness of breath
•    Jaundice or swelling in the belly, if it goes to the liver

Where can metastatic cancer spread?

Metastatic cancer can spread to different parts of the body. While the main locations are bladder, breast, colon, uterus, melanoma, ovary, pancreas, stomach and thyroid, it can move on to bone, liver, lung and brain.

How to prevent metastatic cancer?

It is believed that having a simple, balanced lifestyle and proper diet can help stop cancer from growing in the body. A few nutrients like Vitamin D, EGCG, ursolic acid, curcumin and sulforaphane can help keep cancer at bay. Green tea, eggs, salmon, mushroom, milk and a plant-based diet are a few foods on the list.

Is there any cure for metastatic cancer?

To be honest, still there is no cure found for metastatic cancer, its effect can be reduced with diagnosis and the patient can live with the cancer for years.