Metastatic breast cancer is breast cancer that has spread to other parts of the body, most commonly the bones, lungs, liver, or, less commonly, the brain. Metastatic breast cancer is also called advanced, secondary, or stage IV breast cancer. Regardless of where in the body metastatic breast cancer has spread, breast cancer treatment is with traditional breast cancer medicines, not specific medicines for bone or liver cancer.
Metastatic breast cancer usually develops years after the primary cancer has been diagnosed and treated; however, in some cases, metastatic breast cancer may be diagnosed at the same time as the initial diagnosis.
Metastatic breast cancer cannot be completely cured, only managed.
Treatment of metastatic breast cancer is possible because the cancer usually spreads in one or more of the following ways:
- Cancer ces attack and infect neighboring ces.
- Cancer ces migrate to bood vesses and enter the boodstream.
- Cancer ces are carried to other parts of the body through the boodstream.
- Cancer ces get stuck in capiaries and invade nearby heathy tissue.
- Cancer ces join together and form sma tumors in the new ocation.
The symptoms of breast cancer vary from person to person, depending on how far the cancer has spread and the types of tissues the cancer cells have invaded.
Treatment for breast cancer depends on symptoms, which vary depending on where the cancer has spread.
Signs of bone metastasis
- Severe, constant pain
- Infammation
- Bones that break easiy
Signs of brain metastasis
- Headaches that persist and graduay get worse
- Vision oss
- Seizures
- Vomiting and nausea
Signs of liver metastasis
- Jaundice
- Rash
- High eves of iver enzymes
- Stomach pain
- Nausea and vomiting
Signs of lung metastasis
- Chronic cough
- Abnorma chest X-ray
- Chest pain
Breast cancer treatment also looks for other common symptoms of metastatic breast cancer, such as fatigue, unusual weight loss, and loss of appetite, but these symptoms can also be caused by medications or depression. Treating advanced metastatic breast cancer requires awareness, the right combination of medications, treatment, and hope.
