Multiple primary cancer: Definition, Uses, and Clinical Overview
Multiple primary cancer means a person has more than one distinct cancer, each starting in a different place or from a different cell type. It is different from cancer that has spread (metastasized) or come back (recurrence). The term is used in oncology clinics, pathology reports, tumor boards, and cancer registries. It helps clinicians describe, stage, and plan care when more than one cancer diagnosis is present.