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Breast Cancer Metastasis in Women

Breast cancer is a cancerous tumor that develops in the breast. This is one of the most common cancers in women. As cancers grow, they can shed cells that spread (or metastasize) to other parts of the body through the bloodstream and the lymph system.

After the cancer spreads, it can form new tumors in other parts of the body. These tumors are called metastases. They are most often found in the lymph nodes (glands) near the breast. If the cancer spreads through the blood, it most commonly travels to the bones of the pelvis, spine, legs, ribs, and skull. Metastases may also be found in the liver, lungs, and brain.

Metastasis in women is treated at the U-M Cancer Center's Breast Care Center.

How does the breast cancer occur?

Cancers are uncontrolled growths of abnormal cells. It is not known why they occur. However, some women are more likely to get breast cancer than others. You have a greater risk of breast cancer if:

What are the symptoms?

The most common symptom of breast cancer is a painless lump in the breast. The lump is often difficult to feel. Most women find the lump themselves during a breast self-exam. Sometimes the skin over the lump may be dimpled or wrinkled. There may be a discharge from the nipple or the nipple may be pulled inward.

The symptoms of metastases depend on the area of the body in which they are found. Bone metastases are usually accompanied by pain in that area. An enlarged liver found during a physical exam may indicate liver metastases. Lung metastases may be found if a cough or shortness of breath develops, or they may be seen on a chest x-ray.

How is it diagnosed?

Your health care provider will diagnose metastatic breast cancer by using a number of diagnostic tests in combination with your medical history and a physical exam. These tests may include removal of lymph nodes in your armpit, blood tests to check your liver, a chest x-ray for your lungs, and a total body bone scan to look for signs of cancer spreading to the bones.

Metastases, if they are going to occur, do so most often within the first 3 years after initial treatment for breast cancer. Rarely they are found at the same time as the primary breast lump.

How is it treated?

The treatment for breast cancer depends on the size of the tumor and how much it has spread. In most cases surgery is done to remove the tumor or all or part of the breast. Some lymph nodes in the armpit area will also be removed.

The treatments for metastatic breast cancer include radiation, chemotherapy, and hormone therapies. You may have just one type of treatment or a combination of treatments. These treatments are not expected to cure metastatic cancer, but they do help to slow down growth of the tumor and decrease its size so that symptoms decrease or disappear.

Radiation is given to a specific part of the body, usually a bone or the brain, to kill the cells and shrink the tumors. This will decrease the pain. In cases where a tumor is in the bone, radiation therapy will decrease the risk of bone fracture.

During chemotherapy a combination of anticancer drugs are given, usually through your veins (IV), to kill the cancer cells. Sometimes just pills are used.

For hormone therapy, you are given hormones in addition to or instead of IV therapy. This treatment is often used for women who are older or who have additional medical problems. Tamoxifen may be used alone or with chemotherapy.

Sometimes biologic therapy (also called immunotherapy) is another possible treatment. Biologic therapy uses your body's immune system to fight the cancer.

You will probably take medicine to relieve your pain. Even severe pain can be controlled by a combination of medicines that usually includes narcotics. People who are placed on narcotics to control pain do not become drug addicts. As radiation or chemotherapy treatment relieves the pain, the need for pain medicine will gradually disappear.

How long will the effects last?

How long you will live after the discovery of metastatic breast cancer varies depending on how widespread the cancer is. Treatment of spread can sometimes give years of further control of the cancer.

How can I take care of myself?

Rest often and follow the treatment plan that your health care provider gives you.

Make sure to do breast or chest self-exam and report anything abnormal you find. You should do a breast exam once a month. The best time to do a breast or chest exam is at the end of your period or the first day of the month if you don't have periods.

Ask your health care provider for an exercise prescription to follow when you have finished your treatments.

Consult with a dietitian to improve your diet to heal tissue after treatment and to fight further cancer.

Join a breast cancer support group if you haven't already.

Be candid with your family and your health care providers about quality of life issues that are important to you. Begin to discuss how you would like to be cared for if you are temporarily or permanently disabled.

Spend time with the people and activities you most enjoy.

last updated 7/06

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Published by McKesson Health Solutions LLC.
This content is reviewed periodically and is subject to change as new health information becomes available. The information is intended to inform and educate and is not a replacement for medical evaluation, advice, diagnosis or treatment by a healthcare professional.

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University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center
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This site is part of the U-M Health System. The information presented is not a tool for self diagnosis or a substitute for professional care. © 2008 U-M Comprehensive Cancer Center