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I hope all the members of this prestigious community had a nice Christmas, these are days of celebration and the idea is to have a good time.

For different reasons *(work and personal)* I had little movement in my account, but I am back, and I would like to share information that I have been reading about a new treatment for the prevention of metastasis after an operation to remove a tumor, something that unfortunately tends to be frequent.

Recently a study was carried out where good results could be obtained in this aspect with the use of existing drugs and giving a more holistic approach in the treatment, that is to say, not only thinking about the chemical but contemplating other factors. If you want to know more about this topic I recommend you to keep reading, what I have to tell you will interest you.


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<center>[Pixabay/ Author: fernandozhiminaicela](https://pixabay.com/es/photos/tratamiento-hospital-cl%c3%adnica-4099432/)</center>
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***It is necessary for us to know what metastasis is, so let's define it first:***.


*It is the process by which cancer cells move from their place of origin in one organ or tissue to another place in the body. Often, cancer cells move through the blood or lymphatic system and establish themselves in new tissues, forming secondary tumors.* *This is what causes metastasis.*

This is what makes metastasis one of the main causes of death from cancer, as it **can make treatment more difficult and the cancer more difficult to control.**

That is why before removing a tumor, at least those that can be subjected to surgery, chemotherapy is usually indicated, which is intended to limit the growth of the tumor and even reduce its size, and on the other hand also uses radiation with the intention of delimiting it, and also to prevent it from continuing to grow.

But what I have said so far has been basically pharmacological treatment, chemical, radiation, all seen from the biological point of view as a treatment, however, a very important aspect in the treatment of cancer is usually forgotten, such as the psychological aspect.

The impact of *"the diagnosis of cancer"* on a patient is not something that should ever be left aside, because logically that aspect is also affected, and this in turn has an important repercussion on the general physical condition of the patient, where I must highlight the immunological component of the patient.

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<center>[Pixabay/ Author: geralt ](https://pixabay.com/es/photos/mujer-rostro-acoso-estr%c3%a9s-2696408/)</center>
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In the prevention of cancer itself, and of course, of metastasis, the immune system plays a fundamental role as a line of defense, and if it functions inadequately, the chances of complications and metastasis are increased. 

In order for us to better understand this aspect, I will explain the following:

***Role of the immune system in metastasis prevention:***

*It can detect and eliminate abnormal cells, such as cancer cells, by producing certain cells and proteins that attack and destroy these cells. For example, T cells help detect and destroy cancer cells, while B cells produce antibodies that attack cancer cells.*

In addition, the immune system can also help prevent metastasis by creating an inhospitable environment for cancer cells trying to move to other parts of the body. For example, immune system cells can release substances that make it difficult for cancer cells to move and spread.

When a patient is operated on for colon cancer, there is a 35% chance of metastasis over time. This is largely generated by factors that are dependent on the psychological stress suffered by the patient in the face of the potential possibility that the cancer will reappear, this state of stress **"generates some substances that are limiting for the immune system in its fight against cancer cells "**, such as catecholamines and prostaglandins. 

In the case of catecholamines they affect the immune system in the following way:

They also have other functions explained in my previous [publication](https://ecency.com/hive-196387/@apineda/pheochromocytoma-a-very-particular-tumor).

And prostaglandins have an importance in the local inflammatory process, but when they are released in an exaggerated and permanent way they generate adverse effects on the activity of immune cells, necessary to avoid metastasis.



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<center>[Pixabay/ Author: swiftsciencewriting ](https://pixabay.com/es/photos/virus-pat%c3%b3geno-anticuerpos-5741636/)</center>
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With this in mind, doctors and professors at Tel Aviv University (Israel) developed a study with 34 patients who had undergone surgery to remove colon tumors, 14 of whom were randomly selected and received drugs to prevent the inflammatory process, limiting the production of prostaglandins, and also a drug that will help reduce stress levels, lowering blood pressure, which by itself produces stress in the body.

And the other 20 received placebo drugs. In both cases they took the drugs for 20 days, 5 days before surgery and 15 days after. 

The drugs in question are very well known and are present in practically any medium level hospital center, such as *"Propranolol"* used to lower blood pressure and reduce anxiety, and etodolac, which is used to prevent pain and inflammation.


The results at 5 years of follow-up were as follows:

* 50% of patients taking placebo had presence of metastases.
* 12% of the patients taking the drugs had metastases present.


As can be seen, the statistics indicate that the study turned out to be very positive, and that it could be a viable option for preventing metastasis to a large extent. 

Of course, logically, studies would have to be carried out in a larger mass of patients for the study to have greater weight, however, the studies are very encouraging, at least as far as I am concerned, it is a good approach. 

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<center>[Pixabay/ Author: valelopardo](https://pixabay.com/es/photos/medico-tomografo-estudio-hospital-1228627/)</center>
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I think that the results have been positive and that they show good data in terms of the prevention of metastasis, and that they are treatments that are easily applicable in most patients. More, larger and longer studies are needed for this to be applied later on a larger scale and with a greater margin of safety, but even so, I like the fact that they have taken a more humane approach, also contemplating the psychological aspects of the treatment.

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It is this information that I wanted to share on this occasion, I would very much like to know what you think about it. Thank you very much for reading my publication.


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* **Links consulted**

* [Metastasis prevention: targeting causes and roots](https://www.researchgate.net/publication/359516613_Metastasis_prevention_targeting_causes_and_roots)
* [Molecular principles of metastasis: a hallmark of cancer revisited](https://www.nature.com/articles/s41392-020-0134-x)
* [Cancer metastasis: Challenges and opportunitis](https://www.researchgate.net/publication/282896380_Cancer_metastasis_Challenges_and_opportunitis)
* [Effect of perioperative COX-2 and beta-adrenergic inhibition on 5-year disease-free-survival in colorectal cancer: A pilot randomized controlled Colorectal Metastasis PreventIon Trial (COMPIT)](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0748798322007053)

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