Learning you have metastatic breast cancer can be life-changing and overwhelming. At the OSUCCC – James, we want to walk with you every step of the way from helping you understand your diagnosis to creating a personalized treatment plan specific to your cancer.
We specialize in treating metastatic breast cancer, also known as stage 4 breast cancer. At any given time, we’re caring for more than 500 people with metastatic breast cancer, which speaks to the familiarity and expertise we have with the disease.
And because no cancer is routine at the OSUCCC – James, we’ve developed the Living Well with Advanced Breast Cancer Clinic to better serve those diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer. The clinic, which is located at the Stefanie Spielman Comprehensive Breast Center, offers you and your family a unique, personalized opportunity to explore supportive care and answer your questions about treatment options in a thoughtful environment.
What is metastatic breast cancer?
Metastatic breast cancer occurs when breast cancer spreads to other parts of the body beyond the breast and nearby lymph nodes. Most commonly, the cancer spreads to bones, but it can also spread to other locations such as the lymph nodes, liver, lungs or brain.
Once a cancer is metastatic, it’s no longer curable but it is treatable. With therapies getting better over the last decade, many people with metastatic breast cancer are able to live longer with a better quality of life.
How does cancer metastasize?
All types of breast cancers begin in breast tissue cells, but once cancer cells spread and are no longer localized to the breast or close by lymph nodes, it’s considered metastatic or stage 4 breast cancer. This happens when cancer cells invade nearby healthy cells and grow there.
These cancer cells can then spread through the blood or lymph nodes to other parts of the body.
What causes metastatic breast cancer?
Metastatic breast cancer happens for a variety of reasons. Sometimes the breast cancer went undetected for a long time or treatment was delayed, allowing the cancer to spread over time. Other times, breast cancer is aggressive and spreads quickly and easily, like inflammatory breast cancer.
About 5-8% of breast cancers are metastatic at diagnosis, also known as “de novo”, meaning there was no previous known cancer diagnosis.
Symptoms of metastatic breast cancer
Signs of metastatic breast cancer can vary depending on the organ or part of the body to which the cancer spreads. Some of the symptoms and locations are:
Bone metastases
When breast cancer spreads to the bone, you could experience:
- New pain in a bone that gradually becomes constant
- Fractures or broken bones
- Swelling
Lung metastases
When breast cancer spreads to the lungs, you could experience:
- Chronic coughing
- Inability to catch your breath or shortness of breath
- Chest pain
Liver metastases
When breast cancer spreads to the liver, you could experience:
- Yellowing of the skin or eyes, called jaundice
- Abnormal liver enzymes
- Stomach pain, nausea
Brain metastases
When breast cancer spreads to the brain, you could experience:
- Persistent headaches or head pressure
- Seizures
- Vision issues
- Facial numbness
- Changes in speech or balance
There are some symptoms of metastatic breast cancer that aren’t specific to location. Those symptoms include:
- Unintentional weight loss, meaning that you are not trying to lose weight
- Fatigue
- Poor appetite
How is metastatic breast cancer diagnosed?
We use the most advanced imaging techniques to help us give you a definitive diagnosis. While a mammogram can help us determine that breast cancer is present in the breast, we may perform other imaging tests to see if the cancer has spread to other parts of the body.
Those diagnostic tools include:
- Blood tests – We’ll look at blood counts to see how your bone marrow is functioning. We’ll also test for elevated liver enzymes or proteins that can suggest the cancer may have spread.
- Imaging tests – Most commonly we will use a CT scan of the chest, abdomen and pelvis along with a bone scan to look for metastatic breast cancer. Other scans we may use include PET scan, MRI, ultrasound or X-rays.
Metastatic breast cancer treatment options
We’ll choose treatments that are personalized to the type of breast cancer you have, where the cancer has spread and your own unique needs. Typically, with metastatic breast cancer we use systemic therapies, meaning treatments that can be used throughout the body. Often, we use a combination of these treatments:
- Chemotherapy
- Immunotherapy
- Monoclonal antibodies
- Hormone, or endocrine, therapy
- Targeted therapy
Immunotherapy might be an option for you if you have metastatic triple-negative breast cancer or your cancer has higher levels of a protein known as PD-L1. Immunotherapy is a treatment in which we use your immune system to attack cancer.
Also, since we’re a designated Comprehensive Cancer Center and part of a large academic health system, research is at the forefront of all care we offer. You’ll have access to clinical trials that specifically target metastatic breast cancer, and these are treatments you won’t be able to find elsewhere.
Living Well with Advanced Breast Cancer clinic
Your access to the latest treatment options and clinical trials is one of the major benefits of being treated for metastatic breast cancer at the OSUCCC – James. But our Living Well with Advanced Breast Cancer clinic sets us apart from most breast cancer treatment centers nationwide.
In this program that is dedicated solely to improving the quality of life of people living with metastatic breast cancer, we offer a multidisciplinary approach to cancer that involves more than treating your cancer. For example, the clinic can help you address emotional or psychological concerns, caregiver needs or nutrition.
Related Resources
Breast Cancer Prevention and Risk Factors
Breast Cancer Symptoms and Causes
Breast Cancer Diagnosis and Staging
Breast Cancer Treatment
Breast Cancer Treatment Team