We
know you really don't want to be here, reading about breast cancer
recurrence or metastasis. If you've had breast cancer, the
possibility of recurrence and metastatic breast cancer stays with
you. You may be here because you fear this possibility. Or you may be
here because it's already happened.
Keep
in mind that a recurrence of breast cancer or metastatic (advanced)
disease is NOT hopeless. Many women continue to live long, productive
lives with breast cancer in this stage. It is also likely that your
experience with treatment this time will be somewhat different from
last time. There are so many options for your recurrent or metastatic
breast cancer care and so many ways to chart your progress as you
move through diagnosis, treatment, and beyond.
Recurrent
breast cancer is cancer that has come back in the same or opposite
breast or chest wall after a period of time when the cancer couldn't
be detected.
Metastatic
breast cancer is breast cancer that has spread to other parts of your
body. Both are considered advanced-stage cancer; metastatic breast
cancer is also known as stage IV.
When
you had surgery to remove the original breast cancer, your surgeon
removed all the cancer that could be seen and felt. But tests for
cancer aren't sensitive enough to detect a tiny group of single
cancer cells. These isolated cells may survive radiation therapy and
chemotherapy aimed at preventing recurrence. Even a single cell that
escaped treatment may be able to spread and grow into a tumor.
Being
diagnosed with recurrent breast cancer or metastatic breast cancer
can be overwhelming. Women experiencing a recurrence may find
themselves back on the emotional rollercoaster they thought they got
off of after initial treatment. Other women may be angry, scared,
stressed, outraged, and depressed. Some may question the treatments
they had or may be mad at their doctors or themselves for not being
able to beat the disease. Still other women may deal with diagnosis
of recurrent or metastatic breast cancer in a matter-of-fact way.
There is no right or wrong way to come to terms with the diagnosis.
You need to do and feel what is best for you and your situation.
There
are two important things to remember about diagnoses of recurrent and
metastatic breast cancer:
- You are not alone. More and more people are living life to the fullest while being treated for advanced-stage cancer.
- You can have confidence that there are a wide variety of available recurrent and metastatic treatment choices. There are many treatment options for advanced breast cancer, and new medicines are being tested every day. While recurrent or metastatic breast cancer may not go away completely, treatment may control it for a number of years. If one treatment stops working, there usually is another you can try. The cancer can be active sometimes and then go into remission at other times. Many different treatments — alone, in combination, or in sequence — are often used. Breaks in treatment can make a big difference when the disease is under control and you are feeling good.
In
this section, we'll give you the support, information, and practical
tips you need to deal with breast cancer that has come back or
spread. In the following pages, you'll find information on diagnosis
and treatment options for recurrent and metastatic breast cancer,
palliative care, and information on living with metastatic breast
cancer so you can find the best options for you.
Because
there are so many options, this is a long section. You may want to
read just a few pages at a time. You might find it very difficult to
concentrate, think straight, and remember what you've read. That's
natural when you're anxious, uncertain, or overwhelmed. We'll do our
best to help you find what you're looking for.
Special
thanks to Musa Mayer, author, patient advocate, and publisher
of Advanced
Breast Cancer: A Guide to Living with Metastatic
Disease and AdvancedBC.org.
The
medical experts for Recurrent
and Metastatic Breast Cancer are:
- Marisa Weiss, M.D., chief medical officer of Breastcancer.org; breast radiation oncologist, Lankenau Medical Center, part of Main Line Health, a five-hospital health system in the suburbs of Philadelphia, PA
- Brian Wojciechowski, M.D., medical oncologist, Riddle, Taylor, and Crozer Hospitals, Delaware County, PA
- Sameer Gupta, M.D., M.P.H., medical oncologist, Bryn Mawr Hospital, Bryn Mawr, PA
Receive
Articles Specific to Your Recurrent or Metastatic Diagnosis
We
know that a recurrent or metastatic breast cancer diagnosis can be a
lot to manage, physically and emotionally. Let Breastcancer.org bring
you information tailored to your diagnosis details. Visit the My
Profile page
where you can create an account and enter as much information as you
know right now. You’ll instantly receive articles featuring
medical, Research News, and side effect management information
specific to your situation. You can also sign up for email alerts
letting you know when new articles arrive.
