Medical experts consulted by The Associated Press have said the government's account of "systemic medical treatment" could mean various types of chemotherapy or drug treatments, depending on the type of cancer.

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Medical experts consulted by The Associated Press have said the government's recent accounts of "systemic medical treatment" could mean various kinds of chemotherapy or drug treatments, depending on the type of cancer.

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"We are concerned that the cases... may not be isolated incidents but may reflect more systemic failures in relation to the treatment of mentally ill immigration detainees, " said the MPs.

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If the cancer has spread to other parts of the body, treatment for a metastatic recurrence usually involves whole body (systemic) therapy rather than local therapy such as surgery or radiation.

CNN: Recurrent breast cancer