Metastatic breast cancer is a cancer that has spread to other areas of the body, as well as other organ systems. Once the cancer cells have spread, they continue to grow and multiply. In metastatic breast cancer, the original breast tissue cells have grown irregularly and spread to distant locations of the body.
Some sobering statistics:
In persons with breast cancer, the risk of metastasis is ever-present. Twenty-five percent of breast cancers metastasize to the bones, while between 60 to 70 percent will spread to the lungs.
Metastatic breast cancer commonly spreads to the liver. In fact, more than 66 percent of women with metastatic breast cancer will ultimately have it in the liver.
Almost one third of all women who have an initial diagnosis of cancer limited to the breast will ultimately develop it somewhere else in the body.
What to expect when metastasis has been discovered:
Depending upon where the cancer has spread to, be it the lung, bones, brain or liver, it is certain that additional treatment is mandatory. They type and duration of treatment will depend largely upon the type of breast cancer being treated, the location and magnitude of the metastasis and what symptoms are being displayed.
Additional testing is almost certain to be needed.
Treatment options for metastatic breast cancer:
Hormone therapy: This treatment focuses on blocking the effects of estrogen produced normally in the body, or actually reducing the estrogen levels in the body in an effort to reduce the growth and proliferation of the breast cancer cells throughout the body.
Biologic targeted therapy: This option targets the breast cancer tissue cell with a variety of biologic agents that act upon the cells in different ways to render them inactive, destroy them or block their growth and proliferation.
Radiation therapy: The use of high energy, penetrating electron beams to kill and/or hinder the growth of the cancer cells.
Surgery: Surgical procedures may ease symptoms and retard the cancer's progress.
Chemotherapy: The use of chemical agents, delivered to the body by way of the venous system, in an attempt to destroy tumor cells.
Eat to Survive:
Clinical studies have shown that fat reduction in the diet can help prevent recurrences in certain types of breast cancer, mainly the estrogen-receptor negative (-) type. Although there were no significant changes in survival rates among persons with the estrogen-receptor positive types on low-fat diets, there were some benefits. Overall it is widely accepted that excess calories increase risk of all breast cancer types.
Get smart, to prevent.
There are many ways to get proactive about breast cancer prevention. Learn and follow these basic tenets and you can reduce the risk: Exercise, stay slim, quit smoking, drink less alcohol, get good at breast self-examination and get regular examinations.
Tags: breast cancer, breast cancer, cancer cells, cells have, growth proliferation