Metastatic breast cancer is not a specific type of breast cancer, but rather the most advanced stage of breast cancer (also known as stage IV). The term metastatic means the cancer has spread beyond the initial site, in this case the breast, to other parts of the body. The most common sites for metastatic breast cancer to spread are the bones, lungs, liver, lymph nodes, and sometimes the brain.
Amy Tiersten, MD, is a Professor of Medicine, Hematology, and Medical Oncology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. She sees patients at the Dubin Breast Center.
References
American Society of Clinical Oncology. (2022). Breast cancer: Follow-up care and monitoring.
National Breast Cancer Foundation. (2023). Metastatic breast cancer.
National Cancer Institute. (2023). Breast cancer treatment (PDQ®)–patient version.
Ruddy, K.J., et al. (2023). Approach to the patient following treatment for breast cancer. UpToDate.
Sharma, P. (2023). Overview of the approach to metastatic breast cancer. UpToDate.
Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. (2023). Metastatic breast cancer.
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