For breast cancer sufferers, one of the most effective treatments is surgery that removes the affected areas. But when breast cancer cells have already spread throughout the body, other treatment options may be needed. By recognizing the signs and symptoms early, doctors and patients can get ahead of the cancer and hopefully put it into remission before any vital organs are affected. This article will explore breast cancer metastasis symptoms.
Breast Cancer Early Stages
Breast cancer is, fortunately, a form of cancer that can be quickly diagnosed before late progression. This can be done if potential patients regularly examine themselves for early signs as well as get annual mammograms. In Stage 0, the cells haven't spread beyond their initial starting point. Stage 1 means a tumor hasn't grown beyond 2 centimeters and hasn't invaded the lymph nodes. In stage 2, the cancerous tumor hasn't grown beyond 5 centimeters but has spread to auxiliary or nearby lymph nodes.
Stages 3 and 4
At stage 3, breast cancer cells may have begun to spread into areas beyond the breast. Lymph nodes in the breastbone may be infected, causing difficulty in breathing and heavy chest pains that are no longer localized in the breasts. Swelling of infected tissues or lymph nodes can also occur. In sub-stage 3B, cancer cells could have metastasized to skin near the breast cancer and the chest walls.
At this point, the breast cancer cells have spread to other parts of the body. These cells reach the organs and systems and begin to form additional tumors. Ten percent of breast cancer diagnoses are stage 4 diagnoses. Most common areas include the lungs, bones and liver.
Lungs
Nearly 70 percent of those who died from breast cancer had cancer in the lungs. Difficulty breathing can increase as well as extreme fatigue from lack of proper oxygen delivery. Dry coughs can also become a common occurrence. Twenty-one percent of stage 4 breast cancer patients only have it in the lungs, making surgery a viable option for stopping any further spread.
Liver
When breast cancer cells spread to the liver, symptoms are gradual at first. Additional liver biopsies are often needed to determine whether symptoms are occurring because of metastasis or prior conditions. Loss of appetite and weight loss can occur first. Eventually this can develop into gastrointestinal diseases that further damage the liver's ability to fight toxins and aid in digestion.
Bones
Another common area that breast cancer cells can invade is the bones. In almost a quarter of diagnosed patients, this is the first place that breast cancer cells spread. Great difficulty walking is often the first sign, since the cells tend to target the legs, hips and pelvis. Spinal cord compression and easily fractured bones are also possible signs.
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