what exactly is metastatic breast cancer?

Question

Is it possible to live beyond 5 years with metastatic breast cancer?

Answer 1

Distal Spread: Metastasis occurs when a cancer spreads outside of its organ of origin. Therefore metastatic breast cancer is when breast cancer has spread to involve other organs outside of the breast such as the lymph nodes, liver, lung, etc.

Answer 2

Stage 4 Cancer: Metastatic breast cancer is cancer that started in the breast, but has spread into other places like the liver, lung, bones or brain. It is also called stage 4 breast cancer. It is not usually curable, but many women live with metastatic breast cancer for years with ongoing treatment.

Answer 3

Distant disease: Metastatic breast cancer refers to breast cancer cells that have traveled from the breast through the lymphatic system to distant locations in the body.

Answer 4

Cancer 'elsewhere': Metastatic cancer is cancer that has spread from its organ of origin to another part of the body. For example, the most common sites of metastases for breast cancer are the lungs, liver, and bone. Most breast cancers, when caught early and treated in a timely manner, do not ever spread to other organs.

Answer 5

Stage 4 cancer: There are 4 stages of cancer, with stage 4 being the highest. Stage 4 means cancer has spread outside of the place it started and can't be removed by surgery. Women with stage 4, or metastatic, breast cancer cannot usually be cured. The cancer can be treated to keep it under control, often for years, but it depends on the type of breast cancer.

Answer 6

Distant disease: This means the breast cancer cells have traveled outside of the breast to other locations in the body.

Answer 7

Varies: Treatment for metastatic breast cancer is aimed at delaying the progression of the disease, prolonging life, relieving any symptoms caused by the cancer, and improving daily quality of life. Chemotherapy, hormonal therapy, and monoclonal antibody therapies can all be used to achieve this depending on the type of breast cancer. For detailed information please visit www.Cancer.Org.

Answer 8

It Depends: It depends on the "personality" of the cancer, ie whether it has the estrogen receptor, Progesterone receptor, or her2. It also depends on where the cancer is. Er+ cancer that has spread only to bone can often be treated with anti-estrogen pills alone, while cancer in the liver, lungs or brain often requires chemotherapy. Women can live for years with metastatic breast cancer.

Answer 9

Cancer has spread: Metastatic, or stage 4 breast cancer, means the cancer has spread into other places in the body. Breast cancer at this stage can be treated, sometimes for 10 or more years depending on the type, but it cannot be cured.

Answer 10

CA elsewhere: Breast cancer is cancer in the breast. When it goes somewhere else, such as the lymph nodes or brain, then it is metastatic. A biopsy can show that it is cancer and it originates from the breast and has spread somewhere else.

Answer 11

Traveled: It means that the cancer cells that started in the breast have traveled outside of the breast and have created new tumors in other locations.

Answer 12

Cancer Elsewhere: What makes any cancer "evil" is the potential for cancer cells to break away & travel thru the bloodstream or lymphatics & take up residence in a different organ. Systemic disease implies that there are cancer cells "elsewhere", either indirectly identified by microscopic examination (+lymph node) or seen on x-ray studies (metastatic disease). Rx requires meds that travel "elsewhere", ie chemo-rx.

Answer 13

It varies.: In general, less than 20% of women diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer will be alive 5 years after their diagnosis. However, this statistic may vary quite a bit depending on which organs the cancer has spread to and which drugs the cancer may be sensitive to.

Answer 14

It depends: There are many types of metastatic breast cancer. Life expectancy depends on the type and the location. Er+ breast cancer that has spread only to bones has a life expectancy of years, even 5-10 years. Er- breast cancer has a much shorter life expectancy. In general, breast cancer in organs (lung, liver, brain) causes death sooner than breast cancer in bones only. Ask your oncologist.

Answer 15

It's not: There are many treatments for metastatic breast cancer which can control it for years. Although it can be treated, it is rarely cured. That is because cancer cells are constantly mutating, so treatments lose effectiveness. Metastatic breast cancer requires constant treatment with either hormone therapy, chemotherapy, or biologic therapy. Treatments are changed as they lose effectiveness.

Answer 16

It can be treated: Metastatic breast cancer means it has spread to other parts of a person's body. At this stage, currently, it is not curable. But, definitely there are therapies of many types to hopefully control the disease. Surgical, chemotherapy, radiation, and more. It is true that some types of breast cancer are more aggressive and less treatable--only because we haven't found out what makes that type "tick".

what exactly is metastatic breast cancer?

Ask U.S. doctors your own question and get educational, text answers — it's anonymous and free!

90,000 U.S. doctors in 147 specialties are here to answer your questions or offer you advice, prescriptions, and more. Get help now:

Similar questions

Can you tell me what exactly is metastatic breast cancer?

What are the treatment options for metastatic breast cancer?

What does metastatic breast cancer really mean?

Can you tell me what is the life expectancy of metastatic breast cancer?

Why is metastatic breast cancer difficult to treat?

Related questions

90,000 U.S. doctors in 147 specialties are here to answer your questions or offer you advice, prescriptions, and more. Get help now:

People also asked

Disclaimer:

Get the free app for Members

Get the free app for Doctors