Metastatic Breast Cancer and Recurrence.

Breast cancer metastasis is defined as an invasive breast cancer which has spread beyond the breast. Metastatic breast cancer is also known as secondary breast cancer or advanced breast cancer. When the breast cancer spread occurs in several areas, it is called breast cancer metastases. Reading metastasis will give in general an idea of how cancer spreads.

It is but natural for a woman diagnosed with breast cancer to ask her doctor that one question: Has it spread? If her doctor answers in the affirmative, she knows she has very little time. Her life and the world then changes forever.

Breast Cancer Metastasis Prognosis|Metastatic Breast Cancer Survival Rate.

However, the situation for secondary breast cancer is not so hopeless now. In 1970, only 10% of women survived for 5 years after being diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer. Today researchers put that figure at 40%. It is being approached as a chronic condition and is managed as such.

There are two types of breast cancer metastasis.

• When the breast cancer has spread to the axillary (armpit) lymph nodes. This stage is still curable with proper surgery and systemic treatments. All of the cancer can be removed and good prognosis can be offered to the patient.
• The second type is when the cancer has spread beyond the axillary lymph nodes to distant organs. Here the survival can be for a few years but premature death is at last inevitable.
• About 90% of deaths in women of breast cancer are due to metastasis and 70% of these deaths occur due to bone metastasis.

Breast Cancer and Metastasis|How Does Breast Cancer Spread.

In some cases, cancer cells break away from the primary breast cancer tumor and travel to other parts of the body through the blood vessels or the lymphatic system. They get lodged and form a new cancer deposit. This new cancer deposit is called a secondary breast cancer or metastasis and the original breast cancer tumor is called the primary breast cancer. Reading metastasis of cancer will give a detailed insight on how cancer spreads.

Main Sites of Breast Cancer Metastases|Where Can Breast Cancer Spread.

The most common places of recurrence and breast cancer metastases  are:

• Locally. Can recur in the same place or the underlying tissue where the operated breast used to be.
• Regional lymph nodes. Lymph nodes that can be invaded are the ones in the axilla (armpit), above and below the collar bone and the ones behind the breastbone.
• Bones,
• Liver,
• Lungs, and
• Brain.

Image showing breast cancer metastasis.

Click on picture to enlarge.

Among these, the most common site of breast cancer metastasis is the bone.

Symptoms –>

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1. Breast Cancer Symptoms with Breast Cancer Pictures.
2. Breast Cancer Statistics for U.S.A.
3. Triple Negative Breast Cancer.
4. Diagnosis and Testing for Breast Cancer.
5. Blood Tests for Breast Cancer.
6. Breast Cancer.
7. Breast Cancer Statistics Worldwide.
8. Breast Screening to Detect Breast Cancer.