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 is occasionally used to remove some of the cancer that has spread to 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, often, years
For more information related to advanced breast cancer, see:
Breast Cancer Network Australia has more detailed information about advanced breast cancer. Visit bcna.org.au and the MBC Hub from Metastatic Breast Cancer Action Australia at mbchub.au.
→ READ MORE: Managing the side effects of breast cancer
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More resources
A/Prof Cindy Mak, Breast Surgeon and Director of Breast Services, Chris O’Brien Lifehouse, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, NSW; A/Prof Nick Murray, Consultant Medical Oncologist, Royal Adelaide Hospital and GenesisCare Adelaide, SA; Caroline Bennett, Consumer; Tamara Casey, Clinical Nurse Consultant, Breast Assessment Unit, Fiona Stanley Hospital, WA; A/Prof Joe Dusseldorp, Reconstructive Plastic Surgeon, Chris O’Brien Lifehouse, NSW; Lauren Lores, Consumer; Dr Linda Madigan, Breast Physician, Royal Adelaide Hospital, SA; Catherine Meredith, Consumer; Ash Mondolo, Breast Cancer Clinical Nurse Consultant, Mater Private Hospital, QLD; Chris Rivett, 13 11 20 Consultant, Cancer Council SA; Catrina Ross, McGrath Breast Care Nurse, Northern Sydney Local Health District, NSW; Prof Christobel Saunders AO, James Stewart Chair of Surgery and Director of Research, Melbourne Medical School, The University of Melbourne, VIC; Dr Janice Yeh, Radiation Oncologist, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, VIC; A/Prof Yvonne Zissiadis, Radiation Oncologist, Medical Director, GenesisCare WA and Adjunct A/Prof, Curtin University, WA.
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