Breast cancer, colorectal cancer, and esophageal cancer.

This is the second of a six-part series on metastatic spread and natural history of 18 common tumors. Part one summarized symptom/problem anticipation, cancer metastasis, and the 18 tumors that each cause more than 6,000 deaths per year in the United States. Bladder and brain cancer were discussed, with information given on tumor types, metastatic spread and invasion, and common symptoms. Part two charts the natural histories of breast, colorectal, and esophageal cancers. Each of these cancers is presented separately, with information given on mortality rates, the most common tumor types, sites of metastases, common problems, and common oncologic emergencies. Sites of spread, resulting problems (including site-specific symptoms), and assessment parameters are presented as tables. Material is presented so that clinicians will be able to anticipate the spread of these cancers and thus identify problems early in their development so that the problems are more easily managed.