When your oncologist recommends palliative care for stage 4 breast cancer that has mets to brain, what has happened physically to the body?

Stage 4: Usually represents disease through out the body that is not amendable to chemotherapy . Nothing happens to the body unless the tumors invade or erode blood vessels became necrotic or die causing infection . Extensive disease causes weight loss and malnutrition that can also contribute infection that can lead to death.

Peace and comfort: To the lost second , body deteriorates due to disease. Family , and unfortunate victim to the disease must come to terms allow the disease to take its course, providing pain free comfortable end is the palliative care , several dedicated hospice centers are available for such care.