Precious Oforiwaa Agyei 
Every year, over 2 million people worldwide are diagnosed with breast cancer, with around 10% of those cases being metastatic breast cancer (MBC) ( World Health Organization, 2020).
Consider what it would be like to receive the life-changing news that your breast cancer has spread beyond your breast. The shock, fear, and uncertainty can be overwhelming. But there is hope.
With the right treatment and care, many people with MBC can live fulfilling lives. In this article, we’ll explore what metastatic breast cancer is, its symptoms, treatments, and preventive measures.
- What is metastatic breast cancer?
In about 30% of women who were treated for early-stage breast cancer, the cancer comes back as metastatic breast cancer. In some cases, the stage IV diagnosis is the first time a person learns they have breast cancer, especially if it wasn’t detected earlier.
Metastatic breast cancer (MBC), also called advanced breast cancer or Stage IV breast cancer, is cancer that spreads from your breast to other areas of your body.
Unfortunately, this stage of cancer is incurable, but don’t panic! Healthcare providers can recommend treatments that improve your quality of life and help you live as long as possible.
In fact, more people are living longer with metastatic breast cancer as medical researchers find new ways to treat the disease.
- Symptoms of Metastatic Breast Cancer
The symptoms of metastatic breast cancer vary depending on where the cancer has spread. Some of the most common symptoms include:
- Bones: severe, constant bone pain that worsens over time and can sometimes lead to fractures.
- Lungs: persistence coughing, shortness of breath, or lung pain.
- Brain: headaches, nausea, trouble with vision or balance, and changes in speech.
- Liver: pain in the right side of the abdomen, loss of appetite, or jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes).
If you have symptoms that could suggest metastatic breast cancer, your doctor will order imaging tests to see if the cancer has spread.
- Diagnosing Metastatic Breast Cancer
Advanced imaging technology is key to diagnosing metastatic breast cancer. Doctors use scans to see where the cancer has spread and to monitor its growth. Common diagnostic tools include:
- Bone scans to detect cancer that has spread to the bones.
- CT scans to get a closer look at bones and soft tissues.
- MRIs to take full-body scans and measure tumour size.
- PET/CT scans, often used together, to find metastases and track tumour growth.
- X-rays to check if cancer has moved to the lungs.
These tests help doctors determine the extent of the cancer and create a treatment plan specific to the patient’s needs.
- Treatment Options for Metastatic Breast Cancer
Breast cancer is treatable at all stages, but the earlier it is detected, the better. When it comes to metastatic breast cancer, the 5-year survival rate from diagnosis is 28%. Around 6% of all new breast cancer diagnoses are metastatic breast cancer.
The primary treatment for metastatic breast cancer is systemic therapy, which uses medications that target the entire body. The type of treatment depends on whether the cancer is hormone receptor-positive or HER2-positive. Some of the most common treatments are:
- Chemotherapy: drugs taken by mouth or through an IV to kill cancer cells.
- Targeted therapy: this treatment is used for cancers that are hormone-positive, HER2-positive, or have a BRCA gene mutation. Targeted therapy works by focusing on the specific abnormalities in cancer cells that cause them to grow.
- Hormone therapy (endocrine therapy): If the cancer is hormone receptor-positive, hormone therapy can block the body’s ability to produce the hormones that fuel cancer growth.
Local treatments that target a specific part of the body, such as surgery or radiation, are sometimes recommended.
Preventive Measures for Metastatic Breast Cancer
Let’s take a look at some preventive measures
Learn Your History
Many of the factors that determine your risk for cancer are genetic. It’s very important to know your family’s cancer as you decide how to mitigate your cancer risks.
Know Your Body
Knowing your own breast well enough to notice change is an important component of early detection. Menstruation changes outside of what’s normal for your personal and biological history are vital to notice as well.
Have Genetic Testing Done
If your biological family isn’t available to you, or the information you gain leads to evidence that you may be at higher risk for developing cancers, you can escalate to the point of genetic testing.
Conclusion
Although metastatic breast cancer can’t be cured, there are many ways to manage it and live a fulfilling life. This article proposes a comprehensive approach to knowing the symptoms, treatment, and preventive measures of metastatic breast cancer.
With access to innovative research and clinical trials, patients with metastatic breast cancer have hope for better outcomes and a brighter future.
