Breast Cancer Network Australia
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Overview
Advanced breast cancer is breast cancer that has spread to other parts of the body, such as the bones, liver, lungs or brain. It’s also called metastatic breast cancer.
Treatment is tailored to each person and may include hormone therapy, chemotherapy, targeted therapy, immunotherapy, radiation therapy or sometimes surgery. Treatment can help control the cancer, relieve symptoms and improve quality of life.
Advanced breast cancer is different from locally advanced breast cancer. Locally advanced breast cancer is cancer (larger than 5 cm) that has spread to tissue around the breast or to a large number of lymph nodes. Advanced breast cancer is cancer that has spread to more distant body parts. It is also called metastatic or secondary breast cancer.
Breast cancer can spread to many different parts of the body, but it is most likely to spread to the bones, liver, lungs or brain.
Treatment options for advanced breast cancer
The treatment for advanced breast cancer varies from person to person. It will depend on the type of breast cancer and where in the body the cancer has spread.
The treatment for advanced breast cancer aims to control the spread of the cancer and relieve any symptoms you may develop. You may have one or more of the following treatments:
In some cases, radiation therapy may be used to reduce the size of the cancer and to relieve pain.
Surgery is not often used for advanced breast cancer, but it may be used to treat cancer in the bones, lungs, brain or liver.
While it’s not possible to cure advanced breast cancer at this time, these treatments may improve quality of life for many months and sometimes years.
More information
For more information related to advanced breast cancer, see our other resources:
- Living with advanced cancer
- Cancer pain
- Secondary bone cancer
- Secondary liver cancer
- The Thing About Advanced Cancer podcast series.
Breast Cancer Network Australia has more detailed information about advanced breast cancer.
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