In stage 4 breast cancer, the disease has spread beyond the original site of the tumor and nearby lymph nodes. The cancer may also have spread to other tissues and organs, including the bones, brain, lungs, or liver. Doctors often refer to this as metastatic breast cancer, advanced breast cancer, or secondary breast cancer. Treatments for stage 4 breast cancer focus on controlling the cancer and alleviating symptoms.
Generally, the more advanced a cancer is, the less likely it will be cured. This is true even if the person in question has gone into remission, which is when a person’s cancer goes away for a while and cannot be detected with imaging tests. Some people, however, have been able to achieve complete remission from stage 4 breast cancer.
A patient’s chance of survival can depend on the type of cancer, its location and whether it has spread, and what other treatments have been used in the past. For example, the five-year survival rate for someone with breast cancer that has spread is 29%, according to the American Cancer Society (ACS). But, this figure doesn’t take into account other factors such as the person’s individual medical history and what type of treatment they received previously.
If a person has a HER2-negative breast cancer that has spread, the medication tamoxifen may help them live longer. For HER2-positive or hormone receptor positive cancer that has spread, a combination of drugs might be needed to control the cancer, including chemotherapy and a drug known as a PARP inhibitor such as olaparib or talazoparib.
It’s important to seek support during a diagnosis of stage 4 breast cancer, so don’t go it alone. Talk to your healthcare provider about finding an in-person support group, as well as online and social media groups for people who are living with cancer. You should also try to participate in research trials that might lead to newer, more effective treatments for your cancer.
Many people with stage 4 breast cancer experience negative emotional side effects, but some have also found that cancer can make them appreciate life and develop a greater sense of meaning. Some say that they have learned to prioritize their lives, pursue goals and interests they once thought were impossible, and connect with others on a deeper level.
It’s important to know that the outlook for stage 4 breast cancer is improving. Several new treatments have recently been developed, and some of these have been shown to improve survival rates for women with this condition. As more research continues, there is hope that we will be able to find ways to completely cure cancer and other diseases. But for now, the best thing anyone can do is to work closely with their healthcare team as a full partner in their care. They will do everything they can to control the cancer and help patients manage symptoms and live their lives as fully as possible.
