If breast cancer metastasizes and the cancer is no longer confined to the breast and nearby lymph nodes, it is advanced or metastatic breast cancer. The most common sites of breast cancer metastasis are the lymph nodes, liver, lungs, bones, and brain.
Even if there is no cure for breast cancer, there are still treatments that can help control the cancer and allow patients to manage daily life and regulate their feelings.
Different treatment plans
Treatment for advanced breast cancer may be ongoing in order to manage the disease. Patients need to have regular visits and get to know the health care team over time.
If treatment is working, then it should be continued as long as it is effective and without side effects. If treatment is not working or if side effects occur, the doctor will try a different treatment option.
The doctor may recommend chemotherapy because it can reach the whole body.
Endocrine therapy is also needed if the cancer is sensitive to (that is, stimulated by) estrogen or progesterone. Some patients can be treated with targeted therapy. Targeted drugs act directly inside the cancer cells to cause changes in the cancer cells. These combination regimens can make chemotherapy work better.
In some cases, surgery or radiation therapy may also help relieve symptoms.
Monitoring cancer with regular checkups
Patients should have imaging tests at regular intervals to see what is going on inside their bodies. This is a way for doctors to check the effectiveness of treatment and to confirm that the cancer has not spread. Common imaging tests include:
CT, in which the patient lies on a scan bed with scanning equipment around him or her.
Bone scans, which are given through an IV to help show the cancer site, which doctors call a visualization.
Positron emission computed tomography (PET), which uses a specialized camera and a chemical tracer injected into the arm.
Sometimes, PET-CT scans can combine the results. The computer fuses the images to identify what may be a hot spot for cancer.
The doctor will instruct the patient how often to have the test based on the stage of the disease.