Key points
- Advanced breast cancer (ABC) can be a result of a recurrence of breast cancer or diagnosed as de novo metastatic breast cancer.
- The symptoms of ABC depend on where the cancer has metastasised to.
- ABC can be treated with endocrine therapy, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or targeted therapies. Patients may also benefit from clinical trials.
- To improve ABC symptom management and quality of life, patients should be referred to palliative care services early.
Advanced breast cancer
Advanced breast cancer (ABC), also known as metastatic, secondary or stage 4 breast cancer is when cancer cells spread from the first (primary or early) cancer in the breast or axilla to other parts of the body, via the blood stream or lymphatic system, most commonly to the bones, lungs, liver and sometimes brain.
This can occur months or years after an original diagnosis of breast cancer or present as de novo metastatic breast cancer.
Impact of diagnosis
Many people with breast cancer fear their cancer coming back. An ABC diagnosis is a shock and can be more difficult to deal with than the original diagnosis, because the hope of staying well is replaced with the realisation that cure is no longer possible.
Although there is currently no cure for ABC, treatments have improved and more and more women are living longer after a diagnosis.
More Information
More information on advanced breast cancer:
