Metastatic breast cancer occurs when cancer cells spread to other parts of the body.
Metastatic breast cancer describes a type of breast cancer in which the cells have broken away from their original location to form a new tumor in different tissue or a different organ. The spread of cancer cells from their original location is called metastasis. Breast cancer is considered metastatic if it has spread beyond the breast and nearby lymph nodes to other parts of the body, such as the bones, liver, lungs, brain, or other organs. Metastases, the plural of metastasis, means more than one area of cancer spread.
Metastatic breast cancer is not considered curable, but it’s possible to experience periods when tests show no evidence of disease, often called NED. And while reaching NED may not always be possible, it’s likely that there will be periods when the cancer does not grow. This is called stable disease. Metastatic breast cancer is also known as:
You may see or hear those terms being used interchangeably. Advanced breast cancer is not the same as locally advanced breast cancer. Locally advanced breast cancer includes:
Advanced (metastatic, stage IV) breast cancer means the cells have spread beyond these local areas. Talk with your care team if you are confused by or uncertain about these terms.
Many people who undergo treatment never have to deal with cancer again. But sometimes, breast cancer comes back as metastatic, even if it seemed like the chances of recurrence were low. A person with stage I disease can find out years after the original treatment ended that the cancer metastasized.
A metastatic diagnosis is different than early breast cancer in many ways:
Maintaining your usual daily activities, eating well, getting regular exercise, and getting enough quality sleep can also provide important support for your emotional and physical well-being.
Living well with metastatic breast cancer means different things to different people. But living well and living fully are very possible. From the day of your diagnosis forward, you may make small and large changes to your habits, routines, and activities to address the challenges of living with metastatic disease. Whatever you are feeling, allow yourself to feel it if you can, and think about connecting with others who’ve been diagnosed through our virtual support programs. Hearing others’ experiences, and making new connections with people who can understand what you’re feeling, can be a great source of strength and support.
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“Why me? Why this? Why now? Why not someone else? These are questions I am never going to get the answers to. You just start over. You just keep living.” — Liz, living with metastatic breast cancer since 2019
Symptoms of metastatic breast cancer can mimic symptoms of other conditions. If you experience persistent symptoms that seem out of the ordinary for you, it’s important to let your doctor know.
Common metastatic breast cancer symptoms, by location:
Lobular breast cancer types, which make up about 10 percent of breast cancers, can metastasize to these locations and others, including the abdominal lining, stomach, and gastrointestinal tract.
Doctors use a variety of approaches to confirm a metastatic diagnosis. These can include
Your doctor may also consider genetic and biomarker testing (sometimes called genomic testing or tumor testing) depending on your situation. Learn more about testing for metastatic breast cancer.
Whether this is your first breast cancer diagnosis, or you have had breast cancer before, learning you have metastatic breast cancer is likely to be overwhelming. This session with Zanetta Lamar, MD is designed to provide you with the medical information and practical support necessary to help you make informed decisions about your treatment and to get your bearings during the first months after a metastatic diagnosis. This session may also be helpful to those who aren’t newly diagnosed but need a basic understanding of metastatic breast cancer and how it is treated.
The goal of metastatic breast cancer treatment is to prevent or slow cancer progression while easing symptoms and side effects. Your healthcare team will focus on reducing the amount of cancer in your body while supporting your well-being and quality of life.
With metastatic disease, it’s difficult to fully remove the cancer with surgery or medicine. New tumors may appear over time, or cells may stop responding to different treatments. Growth of tumors or spread of cancer is called progression. Decreases in tumor size or extent of cancer are known as regression. If a treatment stops working, you and your doctors will look at other options.
There are many treatment options for metastatic breast cancer, depending on the cancer type. These are:
It’s always a good idea to ask your doctor about receiving treatment through a clinical trial. Participating in a clinical trial allows you access to treatments that may be more effective than currently FDA approved treatments. You can ask about clinical trials any time you are considering a new treatment.
There may be times when treatment or side effects could get in the way of enjoying a special event or trip that means a lot to you. You can always talk with your doctor about taking a break from treatment, sometimes called a treatment vacation, at times like this.
Treatment for metastatic breast cancer is ongoing, so it’s important to have a healthcare team that takes your concerns seriously. Visit our Questions to ask your oncologist page for questions you can ask, and guidance on how to make sure you’re getting the information you need.
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Living Beyond Breast Cancer is a national nonprofit organization that seeks to create a world that understands there is more than one way to have breast cancer. To fulfill its mission of providing trusted information and a community of support to those impacted by the disease, Living Beyond Breast Cancer offers on-demand emotional, practical, and evidence-based content. For over 30 years, the organization has remained committed to creating a culture of acceptance — where sharing the diversity of the lived experience of breast cancer fosters self-advocacy and hope. For more information, learn more about our programs and services.
