Breast cancer metastasis may cause a variety of symptoms depending on the metastasis.
Distant metastasis of breast cancer can include lung metastasis, liver metastasis, bone metastasis, brain metastasis, abdominal and pelvic metastasis.
Most patients with pulmonary metastasis are asymptomatic. Patients with hilar involvement, especially when the metastasis is adjacent to or invades the bronchus, may present with cough, hemoptysis, and pain. Imaging tests can detect lung nodules. Most patients with liver metastasis are asymptomatic and can be detected through imaging examinations. A small number of patients may experience liver discomfort. Bone metastasis usually manifests as bone pain at the metastasis site, and pathological fractures may occur. Spinal bone metastasis can cause spinal cord compression symptoms and neurological symptoms such as movement disorders and paralysis, sensory loss, defecation and urination disorders, and dystaxia. Brain metastases mostly manifest as headaches, but hemiplegia, cognitive impairment, epilepsy, stroke, etc. may also occur.
Although metastatic breast cancer is unlikely to be cured, patient survival has improved meaningfully with the introduction of newer systemic treatments. Median overall survival is nearly 2 years. Most patients with metastatic breast cancer receive systemic medical treatment consisting of chemotherapy, endocrine therapy, and/or biologic therapy, as well as supportive care measures.
Breast cancer is a major malignant tumor that endangers women's health. It accounts for the top few malignant tumors among all female malignant tumors. In some places, it can reach the first place. However, breast cancer is not exclusive to women. Breast cancer may occur in a very small number of men, but the incidence is indeed very low.