We’re in the middle of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, but advocates and medical professionals have set aside a special day to focus solely on Metastatic Breast Cancer (MBC). Here’s why….
What is Metastatic Breast Cancer?
According to the Cleveland Clinic, Metastatic Breast Cancer is the most advanced stage of breast cancer. MBC is also classified as Stage 4 breast cancer. MBC develops when abnormal cells in the breast start to divide uncontrollably. A tumor is a mass or collection of these abnormal cells.
Metastasis refers to cancer cells that have spread to a new area of the body. In metastatic breast cancer, cells may spread to the:
- Bones.
- Brain.
- Liver.
- Lungs.
How does Cancer Spread, or Metastasize?
According to the National Breast Cancer Foundation, the spread of cancer usually happens through one or more of the following steps:
- Cancer cells invade nearby healthy cells. When the healthy cell is taken over, it too can replicate more abnormal cells.
- Cancer cells penetrate into the circulatory or lymph system. Cancer cells travel through the walls of nearby lymph vessels or blood vessels.
- Migration through circulation. Cancer cells are carried by the lymph system and the bloodstream to other parts of the body.
- Cancer cells lodge in capillaries. Cancer cells stop moving as they are lodged in capillaries at a distant location and divide and migrate into the surrounding tissue.
- New small tumors grow. Cancer cells form small tumors at the new location (called micrometastases.)
What are the Symptoms of MBC?
The symptoms may vary, depending on how far your breast cancer has spread and what type of tissue the new cancer growth has invaded. All symptoms should be reported to your physician. According to WebMD, here are some of the signs, depending on where the cancer may have traveled.
Bones. Breast cancer travels to the bones through the bloodstream. The ribs, spine, pelvis, and long bones of the arms and legs are the most common bones that breast cancer reaches. Bone pain and tenderness are signs the cancer is in your bones. Breast cancer cells can also get into bone marrow — the spongy tissue inside bones where blood cells are made.
Liver. Cancer cells can get into the liver through the bloodstream because the liver filters the blood.
Lungs. The lungs are another common site for metastatic breast cancer to spread because your blood flows through them to pick up oxygen.
Brain. Any type of breast cancer can spread to the brain, but HER2-positive and triple-negative cancers are most likely to reach this organ. Signs of cancer in the brain include headaches, seizures, vision changes, and dizziness.
What are the Treatments for Metastatic Breast Cancer?
According to The American Cancer Society, Stage IV cancers have spread (metastasized) beyond the breast and nearby lymph nodes to other parts of the body. When breast cancer spreads, it most commonly goes to the bones, liver, and lungs. It may also spread to the brain or other organs.
For women with stage IV breast cancer, systemic drug therapies are the main treatments. These may include:
- Hormone therapy
- Chemotherapy (chemo)
- Targeted drugs
- Immunotherapy
- Some combination of these
Surgery and/or radiation therapy may be useful in certain situations. Treatment can often shrink tumors (or slow their growth), improve symptoms, and help some women live longer.
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