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Treatment
The majority of treatments for
metastatic breast cancer focus on alleviating symptoms. Therapies will differ depending on
the patient’s history of treatment and how well she responds to specific therapies.
Surgery is rarely an option because the
cancer is not usually confined to one specific spot on the organ. Radiation therapy may be used, depending on the extent to
which the cancer has spread throughout an organ. The purpose of radiation therapy in cases
of metastatic breast cancer is usually to shrink the cancer and provide pain relief. If
cancer is only on one or more spots of the bone, for example, radiation may be done.
Systemic therapies such as chemotherapy or other drug therapies are usually given to advanced
breast cancer patients because they affect the entire body (as opposed to localized
treatments that only affect one area). Chemotherapy is treatment with anti-cancer drugs.
Most courses are three to six months long and may be given daily, weekly, or monthly,
depending on the body’s response to the drugs. Chemotherapy sessions are not usually
continuous; they include rest cycles because chemotherapy targets both healthy and
cancerous cells.
Researchers are investigating whether aggressive, high-dose chemotherapy is effective in patients
with advanced breast cancer. Some recent research shows that high-dose chemotherapy may improve
a patient's outcome. However, other studies have shown no advantage.
In addition, a new blood test, called CellSearch CTC, shows promise in helping to manage treatment of metastatic
breast cancer. The test measures the number of tumor cells circulating in a sample of blood and can immediately
inform physicians if a patient's treatment is working or needs modification. Research has shown that if a patient
typically has more than five CTCs in a blood sample, survival may be shorter compared to patients with no
CTCs. The CTC test can help physicians monitor whether a patient's treatment by determining whether the
number of cancer cells is decreasing. This information can help determine whether changes are needed in
a patient's treatment. While the test is used independently-typically before each
chemotherapy treatment cycle-health experts do not recommend
that it replace existing tests to monitor disease progression, such as the CAT scan or
PET scan. Instead, it can be a useful supplement to those tests, which are often administrated every 12
to 24 weeks. Click here to learn more about the CTC test.
In addition to chemotherapy, patients
with advanced breast cancer may be treated with several drugs:
Drugs called bisphosphonates may also be used to treat bone metastases (see above section for more information).
Coping With Metastatic Breast Cancer
In a survey sponsored by the
National Alliance of Breast Cancer Organizations (NABCO), the majority of the 200 women
with metastatic breast cancer surveyed said the public perceives them as being "near
death—with little or no time to live." However, nearly 20% of women with
metastatic breast cancer live five years or longer. It is important for patients and
physicians to be realistic about the outcome of advanced breast cancer, but at the same
time, the survival rate (16%) is based on
statistics. Each woman is unique and her situation will also be unique.
There are several resources available
to help women cope with metastatic breast cancer. Here are a few:
- The National Cancer Institute’s
booklet, "Advanced Breast Cancer: Living Each Day." This booklet provides
advice on how to deal with the physical and emotional burdens of metastatic breast cancer.
A copy of the booklet is available online at
http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/advancedcancer.
Call 1.800.4.CANCER (1.800.422.6237) for information on how to receive a copy of the NCI
booklet.
- Contact the American Cancer Society for
published information and local support groups at 1.800.ACS.2345. (1.800.227.2345).
- Advanced Breast Cancer: A Guide to
Living With Metastatic Disease (1998) by Musa Mayer offers advice on how to cope
with advanced breast cancer. Mayer weaves excerpts from interviews she has conducted with
women who have metastatic breast cancer throughout the book.
- The Y-ME National Breast Cancer
Organization has a 24-hour hot-line women may call for services and support:
1.800.211.2141.
- The Susan G. Komen Foundation provides a
24-hour helpline that is answered by trained, caring volunteers whose lives have been
personally touched by breast cancer. Helpline volunteers give timely and accurate
information to callers with breast health and breast cancer concerns: 1.800.I’M AWARE
(1.800.462.9273).
- Talk to a counselor, family member,
friend, breast cancer survivor, therapist, or clergyman or woman.
Additional
Resources and References
Updated: October 30, 2007
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