Metastatic & Recurrent Disease

While using a microscope, pathologists can often identify abnormal cells by their appearance and behavior.  However, cancers do not generally become life-threatening until they develop the capacity to invade surrounding tissue and spread through the blood and lymphatic systems to other parts of the body.  When a cancer comes back after the initial treatment, it is said to recur.  When a cancer spreads to other organs of the body, it metastasizes. 

Some breast cancers are advanced or metastatic at the time of diagnosis.  Others recur or metastasize months or years after treatment for the primary tumor is completed.  Approximately 20-30% of patients diagnosed with early breast cancer will eventually develop metastatic disease.  The most common sites of breast cancer metastasis are the bone, lungs, liver and brain.  Breast cancers that metastasize to other organs of the body are still breast cancers and are treated as such, although the treatments will vary depending on the site of the metastasis.

A breast cancer that recurs at the site of the original tumor can often be completely eradicated, but once it has spread to another organ, it is no longer considered curable.  The goal of treatment becomes controlling the cancer for as long as possible.  How long that is depends on many factors related to your individual cancer and overall health. In recent years, significant, measurable progress has been made in extending the lives of breast cancer patients with metastatic disease. Many women live for years with metastatic breast cancer – continuing to lead their lives, work, and raise their families.

Being afraid that your breast cancer might recur is normal – and also being afraid if and when it does happen.  You may feel overwhelmed and uncertain but at the same time hopeful.  You might be angry at your doctors, or yourself, or your cancer – or wonder what you could have done differently.  You have, without question, entered a different leg of the breast cancer journey, but you will find that many other breast cancer patients share this path.

Your experience with metastatic breast cancer will depend on a variety of factors.  These include the type of recurrence you have and what organ or organs it affects, how aggressive your cancer is, how long it has been since your original treatment, what previous treatments you have had, and your age and general health.  Your doctor and treatment team will work with you to develop a plan of action.  You can help yourself by being an informed, active participant in understanding your breast cancer and making treatment decisions.

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