Which of the following are ways cancer can spread?

Cancer can spread in various ways, and understanding these mechanisms is crucial for grasping how tumors progress and metastasize. One of the primary ways cancer spreads is through local invasion, where the tumor grows directly into nearby tissues and organs. This process involves the cancerous cells breaking down the surrounding tissue barriers and infiltrating adjacent structures, allowing the tumor to expand.

In addition to local invasion, cancer can also spread through the lymphatic system, which is a crucial part of the body’s immune response. Cancer cells can enter lymphatic vessels, allowing them to travel to nearby lymph nodes and potentially establish secondary tumors in other parts of the body.

Another pathway for cancer dissemination is hematologic spread, which involves the circulatory system. Cancer cells can enter the bloodstream, facilitating their transport to distant organs and tissues, where they may form metastases.

The gastrointestinal tract, while it can be affected by cancer (especially in cancers specifically associated with that system), is not a general route for the spread of all cancers. Instead, spread through the gastrointestinal tract would typically refer to the local effects of a tumor within that system or the metastasis of specific cancers originating in the digestive organs.

Thus, local invasion accurately describes one of the fundamental ways that cancer can spread,