Metastatic
breast cancer, also known as stage IV or advanced breast cancer is
breast cancer that has spread to other organs in the body. Metastases
from breast cancer may be found in lymph nodes in the armpit, or they
can travel anywhere in the body. Common sites include distant organs
like the lung, liver, bone and brain. Even after an original tumor is
removed, microscopic tumor cells may remain in the body, which allows
the cancer to return and spread.
Patients
may initially be diagnosed with metastatic disease, or they may
develop metastases months or years after their initial treatment. The
risk of breast cancer returning and metastasizing varies from person
to person and depends greatly on the biology of the tumor and the
stage at the time of the original diagnosis.
Treatment options for metastatic breast cancer
Treatment for metastatic breast cancer includes many of the same treatments as other stages of breast cancer:
These
treatments may be given alone or in combination. Learn more
about advanced
treatments for breast cancer.
