Understanding Metastatic Breast Cancer
What is metastatic breast cancer (MBC)?
Metastatic breast cancer occurs when breast cancer cells travel from the breast to another part of the body such as the bones, liver, lungs, or brain. MBC is also referred to as Stage IV breast cancer.
A second breast cancer that develops in the same or the other breast is not metastatic breast cancer. And having cancer cells in the lymph nodes does not mean your cancer is Stage IV, although pathologists sometimes use the term “metastatic to the lymph nodes.”
What does it mean to have metastatic breast cancer (MBC)?
When is metastatic breast cancer (MBC) usually diagnosed?
Some women (about six percent) are initially diagnosed at Stage IV. They may already have symptoms such as pain or shortness of breath that cause the doctors to suspect metastatic cancer or the metastasis may be discovered during a CT or PET scan as part of the initial workup for breast cancer.
Most people who become metastatic are diagnosed later, anytime from several months to years after they were initially treated for early stage cancer.
What causes metastatic breast cancer (MBC)?
What should individuals with metastatic breast cancer (MBC) know?
- Think about seeking a second opinion. A second opinion may confirm your medical oncologist’s diagnosis and plan or add additional options for treatment.
- Palliative care should be started early on as it is designed to improve the quality of life of cancer patients. Palliative care helps lessen the physical, and emotional symptoms as well as the psychosocial burden of cancer treatment.
- Talk to your Medical Oncologist about participating in a clinical trial.
- Seek out peer support (local in person groups, HealthUnlocked, SHARE Zoom Support Groups)
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