What Is Metastatic Breast Cancer, And What's It Like Having It?

Metastatic breast cancer (also called stage IV, secondary or advanced breast cancer) is breast cancer that has spread beyond the breast to other organs in the body, most often the bones, liver, lungs or, less commonly, brain. Although metastatic breast cancer has spread to another part of the body, it is considered and treated as breast cancer. For example, breast cancer that has spread to the bones is still breast cancer (not bone cancer) and is treated with breast cancer drugs, rather than treatments for a cancer that began in the bones.

So many people, it seems, do not understand what the term "metastatic" means. It means the cancer has spread, and there will be no "cure" now. This can pose many difficulties for those of us diagnosed with this (hitherto) incurable progression in our breast cancer. No, we are not ....eventually... going to be alright.

And just because we deeply understand and accept this to be true for ourselves does not mean we are not being "positive". It means we are being realistic.

We don't like this fact any more than our well-meaning friends who try to jolly us along. If you are one of those friends, consider this... By saying, "But that's not for years yet", or "But you look so well!", you are making yourself feel better about it, but maybe you are also denying your friend's deeply felt fear and sadness at having a terminal illness. Try saying instead, "Oh that's just terrible. How are you coping with that? Is there anything I can do to help?" Or even "I'm so glad you are feeling well today. Let's have fun and make it a good day!"

Meanwhile, our optimism and hope is undaunted. Researchers continue to search for better, more targeted treatments and even cures.

Read all about metastatic breast cancer here: https://patientpower.info/.../lets-talk-metastatic-breast... and here: https://www.bcna.org.au/.