Mastering the intricate maze of metastasis

The metastatic process is an intricate maze of cellular malfunction and deregulation. Many complex steps in the process are necessary for cancer cells to develop a metastatic site. Awareness of these steps has increased oncology nurses' understanding of the biologic process and furthered hopes for interventions to prevent metastasis. Despite these advances, [table: see text] metastatic disease is the leading cause of cancer morbidity and mortality. Nurses who master the concepts of metastasis will appreciate the impact of this phenomena on patients' quality of life, be better prepared to provide information on new treatment strategies to patients and the public, and be able to provide patients with hope for the future.