Can Breast Cancer Spread to Other Locations?

By Dr. Kathleen Ruddy

Many breast cancer patients worry about the possibility of their condition spreading to other parts of the body. Such concerns are valid because when breast cancer does spread to other parts, it exerts a heavy toll on its victims physically, psychologically, and emotionally. Mostly, cancerous cells travel from breasts to other body tissues or organs through the bloodstream or lymphatic system to die, stay inactive, or multiply to cause secondary (metastatic) cancer. Since a diagnosis with secondary breast cancer can be very devastating, an insightful assessment of the good and bad news around it can help a victim cope well with the condition.

The Good News

When breast cancer does spread to other parts of the body, it remains medically manageable and patients need not panic about it. For instance, discomforts such as pain can be addressed using painkillers. Techniques such as radiotherapy and drugs like bisphosphonates can help ease pain in bones affected with metastatic breast cancer. Overall, a patient can successfully manage breast cancer that spreads to other parts of the body if he or she pursues appropriate medication. Secondly, psychological approaches can help maintain a good mental or emotional health after diagnosis with secondary breast cancer. Patients can secure help for how to accept their situation and deal with emotions such as anger, anxiety, or fear. Thus, it is necessary for a patient who has secondary breast cancer to talk to friends, family members, and most importantly, a mental health specialist about their condition.

The aim for a patient is to cultivate a positive attitude about his or her unfortunate condition, as he or she pursues other effective remedies to secondary breast cancer. Thirdly, a good level of physical health can help one cope well with secondary breast cancer. Eating healthy is critical in the management of cancer at all stages. Additionally, regular exercise helps keep a good physical health for the body to respond well to other therapeutic interventions being administered to manage secondary breast cancer. In the same vein, a patient experiencing symptoms of metastatic cancer should get enough rest (including sleep) to keep good physical health.

The Bad News

Although not common, breast cancer can spread to the brain. This is especially true for most patients suffering from HER2-positive breast cancer, though other types of breast cancer may also cause brain metastases. When breast cancer spreads to the brain, the victim experiences symptoms that include severe headaches, dizziness, or seizures. At this stage, radiation, surgery, or steroids can be used to deal with the tumor. Secondly, the symptoms of secondary breast cancer can be very overwhelming. If the cancer spreads to bones, the patient experiences a lot of pain. Breathing becomes difficult if the lungs are affected. The emotional impact is even worse. The worst news about secondary breast cancer strikes at terminal stages. Patients terminally ill with metastatic cancer experience a difficult time with a highly compromised quality of life. When cancer reaches a very advanced stage, the role of family members in providing emotional support to the patient cannot be overemphasized. At this stage, it becomes necessary for both the patient and his or her family to accept the unacceptable and follow expert advice to the end.

DID YOU KNOW?

Not all cancerous cells traveling from the infected breasts to other body tissues and organs survive to cause secondary cancer. Doctors do not know why this is so to date.

When breast cancer does spread to other parts of the body, it can wreak havoc on its victim. Many patients have a difficult time coping with the symptoms of secondary breast cancer for lack of access to helpful information. This may lead to avoidable early deaths. However, accurate knowledge of both the positive and negative facts around secondary breast cancer can help a patient manage the condition and enhance the quality of his or her life.

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