Breast cancer occurs when cancer cells are found in the breast tissue. Treatment for breast cancer depends on the extent and stage of the disease. Most treatment plans for metastatic breast cancer include a combination of therapy options.
Metastatic Cancer
Metastatic breast cancer is when the cancer cells have spread from the primary site. Cancer cells can enter your bloodstream or lymphatic system and land in other areas of your body.
Stage IV Breast Cancer
Your breast cancer is considered stage IV when it has spread to other organs in your body. The most common sites of metastasis are your bones, brain, liver and lungs. Stage IV breast cancer is not operable.
Hormone Therapy
The goal of hormone therapy is to prevent the cancer cells from getting the hormones they need to grow and multiply. Most hormone therapies are in pill form and are taken at home. You may remain on the therapy for years after other treatments have been completed.
Radiation Therapy
Radiation therapy uses beams of radiation to kill cancer cells at a specific site. Radiation is often used before surgery to shrink tumors. This treatment can also be used to help ease pain caused by tumors.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy uses drugs to seek out and kill cancer cells. For stage IV metastatic breast cancer, chemotherapy is usually given through an IV at a doctor's office. Chemotherapy drugs, dosage and cycle length can vary by patient.
Targeted Therapy
Unlike chemotherapy, which works throughout your whole body, targeted therapy works on specific parts of cells. Targeted therapy drugs affect only specific parts of a cancer cell to make it stop multiplying.
Tags: breast cancer, cancer cells, kill cancer, kill cancer cells, metastatic breast cancer
