- Because breast cancer can now be discovered at a much earlier stage, most women will not have metastatic or recurrent disease.
- Although most metastatic breast cancer cannot be cured, you can live for several years with treatment that will improve the quality of your life.
- The type of treatment you receive depends on your general state of health and how active you are (performance status).
The treatment you receive depends on your symptoms, the area of your body involved, and whether your breast cancer has spread. Treatment may include:
More about metastatic breast cancer
- Hormone therapy with medicines such as tamoxifen or an aromatase inhibitor. These medicines are used if your breast cancer has estrogen receptors. Aromatase inhibitors are used if you have already completed menopause.
- Trastuzumab (Herceptin), for HER-2 breast cancer. It is used to stop the cancer from coming back and to control breast cancer that has spread.
- Chemotherapy with medicines such as doxorubicin, taxol, or cyclophosphamide
- Bisphosphonates to reduce bone pain, fractures, and spinal-cord compression caused by metastatic disease in the bones
- Radiation treatments to destroy cancer cells that are causing problems in a specific area
- Surgery for a local recurrence. For example, you might have a mastectomy if breast cancer has returned to your breast after you had breast-conserving surgery. Some studies have shown better survival rates for women who have the primary tumor removed even when the cancer has already spread.
- Corticosteroids to reduce inflammation and swelling caused by metastatic disease of the brain and spinal cord
Clinical trials that test new medicines and new combinations of medicines are ongoing. Talk with your doctor about participating in a clinical trial.
The length of time between visits to your doctor depends on the type of treatment you are receiving and your response to the treatment.
Last Updated:
August 31, 2007
