While metastatic breast cancer cannot be cured, it can be treated with a regimen that focuses on extending life and maintaining quality of life.
Metastatic breast cancer, also classified as stage 4 breast cancer, means the cancer has spread from your breast to distant organs such as your bones, lungs, or other parts of your body.
For some patients, metastatic cancer is first identified at initial breast cancer diagnosis however for most patients, metastatic cancer occurs because previous treatment didn’t destroy all the cancer cells. Sometimes, a few cells remain dormant, or are hidden and undetectable. Then, for reasons providers don’t fully understand, the cells begin to grow and spread again.
Around 170,000 people in the United States are living with metastatic breast cancer. Fewer than 1 in 3 women who are diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer later develop metastatic breast cancer.
There are currently no proven ways to prevent metastatic breast cancer. But researchers are working on treatments that may prevent cancer from spreading (metastasizing) and/or coming back (recurring).
The symptoms of metastatic breast cancer depend on where the cancer cells have invaded:
Symptoms of bone metastases:
- Bone pain
- Bones that break or fracture more easily
- Swelling
Symptoms of brain metastases:
- Worsening headaches or pressure in the head
- Visual disturbances
- Seizures
- Nausea and vomiting
- Behavior or personality changes
Symptoms of liver metastases:
- Jaundice
- Itchy skin or rash
- Stomach pain, loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting
Symptoms of lung metastases:
- Cough that won’t go away
- Difficulty catching your breath
- Chest pain
Other symptoms of metastatic breast cancer:
- Fatigue
- Unexplained weight loss
- Poor appetite
If your doctor has reason to suspect your disease has metastasized, and you have any of the above signs that your breast cancer has spread, your doctor may perform follow-up tests. These include imaging tests, blood tests, and biopsies of the suspected metastatic lesion.
Some people are at higher risk for metastatic cancer even after finishing initial cancer treatment. The risk depends on various features of the cancer, including tumor characteristics (type of cancer cells), stage at your first diagnosis, and treatments you received.
For women with metastatic breast cancer, systemic drug therapies are the main treatments. These may include hormone therapy, chemotherapy, targeted drugs, immunotherapy, or some combination of these. Surgery and/or radiation therapy may be useful in certain situations.
Although systemic drugs are the main treatment for metastatic breast cancer, local and regional treatments such as surgery, radiation therapy, or regional chemotherapy are sometimes used as well. These can help treat breast cancer in a specific part of the body, but they are very unlikely to get rid of all the cancer.
Several potential new treatments for metastatic breast cancer are being evaluated in clinical trials. Most of these are drug therapies, including many of the breast cancer studies found on Gilead’s clinical trials website.
The right treatment plan can improve survival for people with metastatic breast cancer. However, survival rates vary and are dependent on a number of factors including type/biology of the breast cancer, parts of the body involved, and individual characteristics.
Living with metastatic breast cancer can be challenging. Your care team can help provide physical and emotional support in addition to your cancer treatment. Talk to them about how you can:
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- Eat the most nutritious diet for your needs
- Exercise regularly
- Manage stress
- Get emotional support, including finding support groups
- Reach out for help from friends, family and loved ones
- Find mental health services
- Find complementary therapies
