When breast cancer spreads, the locations will differ with each person.
Where breast cancer spreads also depends on the specific genetic mutations and subtype of cancer.
However, in roughly a third of cases, cancer spreads to multiple organs at the same time.
Illustration by JR Bee for Verywell Health
The cancer in these other sites is a secondary rather thanprimary cancer, unless a new one occurs.
Pain can but does not always occur with bone metastasis.
Bone metastases tend to have a fairly good prognosis when compared with spread to the brain and other sites.
In addition to other cancer treatments, radiation may help to remove tumors blocking the airway.
Primary lung cancer is treated differently than breast cancer that spreads to the lungs.
Metastatic breast cancer often causes fluid build-up in the space between membranes that line the lungs.
It can be treated with drainage or apleurodesisprocedure to prevent its recurrence.
Liver
Breast cancer metastasis to the liver is common.Liver metastasesmay be present without any symptoms.
Sometimes, liver metastases reduce the ability to tolerate chemotherapy.
Arecurrencecan be local (at the original tumor site), regional, or distant.
Brain
Breast cancerspreads to the brainin some cases.
Sometimes, they’re only found because of imaging tests performed on the brain.
Researchers continue to identify chemical pathways and causes for breast cancer’s spread, including the subtype of cancer.
Treatment for metastatic breast cancer includes radiation and chemotherapy, as it does with other cancer types.
Targeted therapies may be used with specific cancer types.
Talk to your cancer care team about your treatment options if your breast cancer has spread to other organs.
Subramonian S, Chopra S, Vidya R.New alternative techniques for sentinel lymph node biopsy.Medicina (Kaunas).
doi:10.1002/rcr2.375
American Cancer Society.Liver metastases.
American Cancer Society.Treating breast cancer.
American Cancer Society.Breast cancer facts & figures 2019-2020.
Venur VA, Leone JP.Targeted therapies for brain metastases from breast cancer.Int J Mol Sci.
2016;17(9).
doi:10.3390/ijms17091543
BreastCancer.org.Brain metastasis: Symptoms and diagnosis.
Peereboom DM.Breast Cancer Brain Metastases: Challenges and Opportunities.JCO Oncol Pract.
2016;30(8):695-702.
DeVita VT, Lawrence TS, Rosenberg SA.Cancer: Principles & Practice of Oncology.
Cancer of the Breast.Riverwoods, IL: Wolters Kluwer; 2016.
2016;35(3):427-37. doi:10.1007/s10555-016-9631-3
