Metastatic breast cancer
Key facts
- Metastatic breast cancer is also known as stage 4 cancer, advanced cancer or secondary cancer, and is when the cancer has spread to other parts of your body.
- Breast cancer usually spreads to the bones, liver, lung and brain.
- You may have general symptoms of feeling tired and unwell, symptoms related to where the cancer has spread to, or no symptoms at all.
- Treatments depend on where the cancer has spread to, but can include medicines, surgery or radiotherapy.
What is metastatic breast cancer?
Metastatic breast cancer is when cancer cells from your breast cancer spread from the breast and nearby lymph nodes to different parts of your body. It is also known as advanced breast cancer, secondary cancer or stage 4 breast cancer. Metastatic breast cancer is different to early or locally advanced breast cancer because it has spread outside of the breast and the nearby lymph nodes, to your bones or other organs.
Females and males can get metastatic breast cancer. Transgender women on hormone medicines and transgender men who have had their breasts removed can still get metastatic breast cancer. Treatment is similar for all people. Females and transgender women taking female hormones have a higher risk of breast cancer than males.
What are the symptoms of metastic breast cancer?
The symptoms of metastatic breast cancer can be general or be related to where in your body the cancer has spread to. You may also not have any symptoms. The most common areas for breast cancer to spread to are your bones, liver, lung or brain, but it doesn't necessarily spread to any or all of these places.
General symptoms include fatigue, depression and anxiety.
Specific body parts the cancer can spread to and the symptoms you may experience include:
- bone — pain, broken bones from injuries that wouldn't usually cause a break, high calcium on blood tests
- liver — jaundice, bleeding problems, fluid accumulating in your abdomen
- lung — difficulty breathing, cough, chest pain when you breathe, coughing up blood
- brain and spinal cord — headache, changes to movement or feeling, thinking difficulties, seizures
- lymph nodes — pain
What causes metastatic breast cancer?
Metastatic breast cancer is caused when some of the cancer cells in the breast spread to another part of the body. This can happen before or after treatment.
You can be diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer when you are first diagnosed with breast cancer, but this is not common. You may be diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer months or years after you finish treatment for early breast cancer.
When should I see my doctor?
You should see your GP if you have any new or worsening symptoms, or if you have had breast cancer in the past and are worried.
FIND A HEALTH SERVICE — The Service Finder can help you find doctors, pharmacies, hospitals and other health services.
How is metastatic breast cancer diagnosed?
Metastatic breast cancer can be diagnosed through different tests depending on where in your cancer journey you are.
After you are first diagnosed with breast cancer you will have tests to check if the cancer has spread so your stage at diagnosis is confirmed. This may include blood tests, bone scan, CT scan and PET scan.
If you develop symptoms that could be from metastatic breast cancer after you have already had treatment then your doctor will examine you and order tests that related to the problem you have noticed. Tests may include blood tests, bone scan, x-ray, CT scan, MRI or ultrasound.
How is metastatic breast cancer treated?
Metastatic breast cancer can be treated in different ways depending on where the metastases (cancers that have spread) are, the type of breast cancer you have and your general health. Medicines include chemotherapy, hormone therapy and targeted therapy. Sometimes surgery or radiotherapy is used.
The goal of treatment in metastatic breast cancer is to increase your life expectancy, improve your quality of life and manage your symptoms, but usually not to cure the cancer.
Being diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer can bring up many emotions for you, your family and friends. It is important to speak to your doctor or nurse about this so they can help you get support.
Can metastatic breast cancer be prevented?
If breast cancer is prevented then it will not become metastatic. There is no proven way to definitely prevent breast cancer, but the risk can be reduced by managing some of the risk factors, such as by being a healthy weight and limiting alcohol.
Complications of metastatic breast cancer
Complications of metastatic breast cancer can affect many different parts of your body, through the symptoms described above.
Your cancer treatments can also cause many side effects depending on the medicine or treatment used. Some examples include nerve pain, hair loss and changes to memory and thinking.
Read more on complications of metastatic breast cancer.
Resources and support
- Cancer Council Australia provides services and support to all people affected by cancer. Call on 13 11 20.
- Read more on living with breast cancer.
- General information about cancer is available online in many community languages.
- Read all about cancer for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people.
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Last reviewed: November 2023
