Sadly, metastatic breast cancer—cancer that has spread from the breast to other organs in the body—is the leading cause of death from breast cancer. But BCRF-funded researchers are working hard to find promising new treatments that can prevent or prolong life in women with this disease.
The five-year survival rate for stage 4 breast cancer is 29%, but this varies widely by person. Many people with this stage of cancer live longer than these statistics indicate, and newer, more effective treatments are always in development.
In the meantime, doctors focus on extending quality of life. Treatments may include surgery, chemotherapy and/or radiation. Symptoms such as pain, fatigue, difficulty breathing and loss of appetite can be controlled with drugs or other therapies. The goal of these treatments is to slow down or prevent the growth of tumors and improve the patient’s quality of life.
Knowing a woman’s tumor stage is crucial to her prognosis. The stage describes how big a tumor is and whether it has spread. A woman’s medical team may also use staging to plan her treatments. Staging is usually done before or after a biopsy and sometimes both. Detailed information about the cancer’s characteristics—such as tumor grade, size and hormone receptor status or HER2 status—are combined with the stage to determine the best course of action.
For example, if the tumor is non-invasive ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) or Paget’s disease of the nipple, it may be designated as T0. If the breast cancer is invasive, it may be classified as T1 (smallest tumor) or T2 or T3 or T4 or T5 or T6. The letter “N” in the staging system refers to the number of lymph nodes affected, with N0 indicating no lymph nodes involved and N4 indicating that cancer has spread to the axillary lymph nodes.
A woman who has stage 4 breast cancer may also have metastatic disease in the lungs or liver. If symptoms suggest metastatic disease in the lungs, a chest x-ray or bronchoscopy may be performed to detect metastases. For patients with suspected liver involvement, blood tests or imaging tests such as an MRI are often used.
If breast cancer has spread to bones, a doctor can prescribe medicines to strengthen the bone, reduce pain and help control other symptoms caused by the disease. These drugs may include a combination of bisphosphonates and denosumab.
A diagnosis of stage 4 metastatic breast cancer can bring up a lot of emotions, including fear and despair. But it’s important to take care of yourself and get support. Seek counseling or join a support group, and be sure to spend time with family and friends. Some women say that their experience with cancer has helped them prioritize what’s most important in life and connect with loved ones on a deeper level. This new normal can be a challenging adjustment, but it is possible to live well with this chronic illness.
