How Breast Cancer Spreads

All cancers occur when cells divide uncontrollably, eventually spreading through the body (a process called metastasis). The location of the cancer plays a major role in how the cancer spreads. When breast cancers metastasize, they often spread to the chest wall, bones, lungs, liver, or central nervous system.

A patient may experience different symptoms depending on where the cancer spreads. Some patients do not experience any new symptoms, which is why regular check-ups are important after cancer treatment.

Signs of metastatic breast cancer may include:

• New Lumps- Lumps in the breast can indicate that breast cancer has returned, but they don’t necessarily mean that the cancer has spread. However, nipple discharge, pain, and new lumps are serious symptoms that require medical attention.
• Respiratory Symptoms- When cancer spreads to the lungs, patients may have difficulty breathing, chest pain, unexplained weight loss, or coughing.
• Liver Issues- If the cancer has spread to the liver, symptoms can include a loss of appetite, abdominal swelling, rashes, itching, and jaundice (yellowing of the whites of eyes and skin).
• Bone Pain- Cancer that has metastasized to the bones may cause symptoms like swelling, joint pain, and fractures.
• Central Nervous System Symptoms- Cancer that spreads to the brain or spinal cord can cause nausea, headaches, confusion, personality changes, vision issues, seizures, and loss of balance.

This is not an exhaustive list, and these symptoms are also associated with other diseases that are not cancer. People who notice any worrisome or unexplained changes in their health should speak to their doctors.

Diagnosing Metastatic Breast Cancer

Only a doctor can diagnose metastatic breast cancer. A physician may recommend blood tests, imaging tests (including MRIs, CT scans, PET scans, and X-rays), biopsies, and other tests. They will also ask questions about the patient’s symptoms and health history.

Some doctors use staging to describe the condition of a patient’s breast cancer. In Stage I cancer, the cancer is small and hasn’t spread; Stage 4 indicates that the cancer has metastasized to another organ in the body. Metastatic breast cancer is also known as Stage 4 breast cancer. This is simply another way to describe the disease, and it doesn’t mean that the patient cannot be treated.

The 5-year relative survival rate for metastatic cancer rate is 27 percent according to the American Cancer Society. Patients should understand that survival rates are averages, and they’re not used to estimate the outcome of specific cases —Stage 4 cancers aren’t the same for every person, and many patients respond well to treatment.

Treating Metastatic Breast Cancer

Exact treatments will vary depending on the progression of the cancer and the patient’s health history. Some common treatments include:

• Surgery- Surgeons will attempt to remove as much of the cancerous tissue as possible. In many cases, doctors combine surgery with other therapies.
• Chemotherapy- Chemotherapy drugs are typically used to reduce the size of tumors and to stop cancers from spreading. A physician may test the patient’s tumor prior to prescribing this treatment, as some types of cancer are more likely to respond to certain types of chemotherapy.
• Radiation Therapy- This treatment uses high-energy rays to reduce the size of tumors. Doctors will need to determine whether patients can tolerate radiation therapy before using it, especially if patients have received previous radiation treatments.
• Targeted Therapy- These drugs target proteins and genes in cancers to destroy them or prevent them from growing. Physicians will often use targeted therapy along with chemotherapy.

Complementary Therapies- These therapies are intended to improve quality of life, limit stress, and ease the symptoms of cancer. Dietary supplements, hypnosis, meditation, and acupuncture are all potential complementary therapies.

Learning More About Metastatic Breast Cancer

Patients should make sure that they understand how treatments work and their limitations. This is especially important when looking at complementary or alternative therapies — some supplements, for instance, can interact with certain medications.

Researching metastatic cancer can give patients a more accurate outlook on the disease and its treatments, which can be helpful when discussing options with a doctor. People should exercise caution when using online resources; wherever possible, they should look at several different pages, not just a single source.