A diagnosis of metastatic cancer is serious and can be scary.
Meet the Experts:
What is metastatic breast cancer?
Like other types of cancer, breast cancer is diagnosed in stages.
Bella Geraci
A small percentage aroundfive percent of patients have metastatic breast cancer when they’re first diagnosed.
How is metastatic breast cancer treated?
The treatment strategy usually changes when breast cancer has spread to other parts of the body.
But most of the time, metastatic cancer is considered treatable, not curable.
Some patients undergoradiation, which kills cancer cells in specific areas.
What’s the outlook for someone with metastatic breast cancer?
No matter what the prognosis is, finding out you have metastatic breast cancer can be traumatic.
“Having a new cancer diagnosis, regardless of stage, is very stressful,” says Dr. Shah-Khan.
“Having a diagnosis of metastatic breast cancer can be even more difficult to process.”
For that reason, she always recommends patients seek out emotional support in addition to cancer treatment.
The American Cancer Society also providesresources for breast cancer patientsseeking support.
“Self-care is really important with metastatic breast cancer,” says Dr. Gupta.
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