Metastatic breast cancer

Metastaticinfo-icon breast cancer is breast cancer that has traveled away from the breast and nearby lymphinfo-icon nodes to other parts of the body, such as the bones, lungs, liver or brain. Though cancer at any stageinfo-icon can become metastatic, metastatic cancer is the term used to refer to stage IV cancer.

The goals of treatment are to:

  • shrink or weaken the cancer, and prevent it from spreading further
  • relieve symptoms caused by the cancer
  • help you live every day with the fewest side effects and best possible quality of lifeinfo-icon

In this section, you’ll find a basic explanation of breast cancer, how it metastasizes, how metastatic breast cancer is different from early-stage disease and the emotional impact of stage IV disease. 

Updated 
August 31, 2015
Reviewed By: 
William J. Gradishar, MD, FACP;  
Kathy D. Miller, MD;  
Evelyn Robles-Rodriguez, DPN, APN, AOCN;  
Roz Kleban, LCSW;  
Marie J. Lavigne, LCSW, OSW-C;  
Betty Ferrell, PhD, MA, FAAN, FPCN;  
Danny Welch, PhD;  
David M. Euhus, MD