Tara’s Story: Living with Metastatic Breast Cancer
When Are Local Treatments Used?
Yet, sometimes, these general therapies are not enough.
Your healthcare provider may recommend a form of radiation or drugs referred to as bone-modifying agents.
Verywell / JR Bee
At times, lung metastases may cause airway obstruction or bleeding into the airways.
When this occurs, radiation therapy may be effective in decreasing symptoms.
Unfortunately, this barrier also often prevents cancer drugs from reaching this area.
Techniques such as microembolization and more may offer better treatments in the future.
There are several clinical trials currently in progress studying the treatment of metastases.
Some of the more common side effects include:
DeVita, Vincent, et al.
Cancer: Principles & Practice of Oncology.
Cancer of the Breast.
Wolters Kluwer, 2016.
Liedtke C, Kolberg H.Systemic Therapy of Advanced/Metastatic Breast CancerCurrent Evidence and Future Concepts.Breast Care.
11(4):275-281.
