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by: RoselynCapen
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When the cancer has advanced fully, it spreads out to other organs. The process of spreading out from the original site is called metastasis, and the stage is referred to as metastatic breast cancer. Sometimes, all cancer cells do not die even after treatment for cancer, and these cells can break out from the original site and travel to other organs through blood vessels and lymphatic vessels, and develop tumors in other organs. This recurrence of cancer in other organs is called metastatic breast cancer, too.

Metastatic breast cancer can develop in two ways: It is possible that the treatment for the primary breast cancer is over, but some cancer cells that did not die start replicating and redeveloping into new cells, and spread out to other organs, or, it is possible that the treatment is ongoing, but cells still break out and spread to other organs. It is often the case that the diagnosis of metastatic disease is so late when the treatment is ongoing, that chances of survival become very thin.

Unfortunate as it may be, breast cancer has the maximum chances of metastasizing. When this happens, bones, and organs like the lungs and brain starts showing abnormal changes, which means they're starting to develop cancer cell growth. If you get lung cancer or liver cancer or any other cancer after getting breast cancer, it is probably just breast cancer metastasis and not a new cancer. This is good news, since breast cancer has low mortality rates and can be treated. However, if the new cancer if in the breast which did not have cancer previously, it may be a new cancer.

Metastatic breast cancer develops in almost thirty out of hundred women who have had breast cancer, which makes knowledge about it so necessary. When the cancer has not metastasized to organs like the lungs and brain, or when there is a presence of estrogen and progesterone hormones in cancer tissues, the cancer is treatable. Also, if you have already not undergone many treatments for your previous cancer, and the malignant cells show some change after therapies, your treatment can be successful.

Since a total cure of metastatic disease is very difficult, the treatment involved is very long and cumbersome. A combination of Systemic therapy and regular monitoring is needed. This involves chemotherapy, hormonal treatment and radiation therapy, and for monitoring, regular mammograms, breast ultrasounds, CT scans, MRIs, PET scans, bone scans are done. Treatment also varies with purpose, chemo and radiation therapies concentrating on the whole body cure, surgeries like lumpectomy and mastectomy on specific body parts, and oral aspirin intake along with other drugs focusing on lessening physical pain of the victim.

A lot of research is going into slowing down and completely stopping further advancement of metastatic breast cancer. Even though this is the worst phase of your cancer, it is important that you know that many women with the metastatic disease have lived happily and normally while taking their treatment. You will have to decide when to end your treatment, for the higher the number of treatments you take, the higher the side-effects. This decision is the hardest to take, but you will know you have tried everything, prolonged your life as much as you could have. Spend the rest of your life being happy, and taking regular medication. Happiness is known for prolonging life, too.

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Get all the details about the treatments for metastatic breast cancer. Finding an early breast cancer symptom increases your chances for a successful treatment.

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