Secondary bowel cancer

Secondary/Advanced/Metastatic bowel cancer

Bowel cancer that has spread to another part of the body is called secondary, advanced, or metastatic bowel cancer. You'll find that all these terms may be used, but they mean the same thing.

Some people find out that their cancer has spread beyond the bowel when they are first diagnosed. Others find out as a result of the pathology results from their surgery, or later during regular follow up scans and investigations, when it is called a 'recurrence' of the cancer.

The following pages provide information which you may wish to read following the news that your bowel cancer has spread to another part of the body.