If you’ve been diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer, you may struggle with the idea that the cancer can get worse. Experts say that 20 to 30 percent of people diagnosed early eventually progress to stage IV, known as metastatic breast cancer (MBC), at some point.
When this happens, cancer that started in the breast or nearby lymph nodes moves to other areas of the body, such as the bones, liver, or brain. The health perspective becomes immensely more complex and cancer more unpredictable, which can cause great stress for patients. But the prognosis is not always bad. Here we tackle five myths about MBC.
1. It is always a terminal.
People often assume that a diagnosis of MBC automatically means they are going to die. This is not necessarily true.
“Today, we have much better treatments for breast cancer — even for the more aggressive types of breast cancer,” said surgeon Anne Peled, MD, co-director of the Breast Care Center of Excellence at Sutter Health California Pacific Medical Center in San Francisco. “I’ve had several patients who are alive and well many years after finding out their cancer is metastatic.”
Chemotherapy is also not the only treatment option for MBC, she pointed out; in some cases, hormone-blocking therapy or immunotherapy is indicated.
2. It can be cured.
Unlike early stage breast cancer, MBC cannot actually be cured. But it can be managed as a chronic condition, with treatments aimed at controlling the spread, relieving symptoms and improving patients’ quality of life. It is true that people living with MBC will be on treatment for the rest of their lives. That being said, there are many cases where patients who have undergone breast cancer treatment no longer have any visible signs of the disease, so it can be “cured”. There are different regimens and clinical trials, and many approaches can be tried.
“It is important for MBC patients to receive personalized treatment plans from a multidisciplinary treatment team,” said Vivian Jolley Bea, MD, chief of breast surgery oncology at New York-Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital, in Brooklyn, New York. York. “No two MBCs are the same, so understanding the specifics of the type of breast cancer [a person has] and their treatment options are key to relieving unnecessary stress.”
Stars who had breast cancer and shared their stories
3. It is inevitable.
Most people with early-stage breast cancer do not develop MBC, according to experts at Johns Hopkins Medicine in Baltimore.
“In general, when breast cancer is diagnosed at an advanced stage, there is an increased risk that it will return as metastatic cancer in the future, compared to earlier stages,” said Dr. Peled. As a breast cancer survivor, she knows what it’s like to fear possible metastases. “Even though I reasonably know the risk to me is low, I still start to worry every time I have a new symptom, like constant back pain.” If it doesn’t go away in a few weeks, she gets checked out—and recommends that anyone with similar anxieties also consult with their oncologist.
A picture of a mother with cancer.
Getty
4. It’s your fault.
This idea preoccupies some MBC patients, said Dr. Bea: “They think that if they had gotten it earlier, [might] not diagnosed. It is true that metastatic breast cancer can still occur, even if the usual screening recommendations have been followed.”
Mammography and ultrasound can improve breast cancer outcomes, but they cannot eliminate cancer that has already metastasized. Factors such as tumor subtype and genetic factors often play a greater role in determining metastatic potential. MBC can develop even if you have been diagnosed and have followed all treatment guidelines perfectly.
“Catching breast cancer at its earliest stage is important, but the biology of the tumor may be even more important,” explained Dr. Bea. “Tumor biology often dictates how cancer cells behave and determines their metastatic potential.”
From when to get tested to what they’ve been through: what women who’ve had breast cancer want you to know
5. You have to keep a positive attitude.
Keeping a good attitude helps fight cancer, but that’s not all. You also need comprehensive treatment and support.
Too often, patients living with breast cancer will avoid discussing new symptoms with their oncologists because they fear a diagnosis of MBC and a shorter life expectancy. That’s a bad idea.
If you’re feeling scared, reach out to breast cancer support groups, networks and online communities, Dr. Peled urged. Talking to others who have been there can ease your fear. Valuable resources include METAvivor, a site that offers support and education to those facing stage IV breast cancer, and The Breasties, an organization that provides community for people with breast and gynecological cancer.
“Counseling and psycho-oncology therapy—provided by psychologists who specialize in treating cancer patients—are also excellent options,” added Dr. Bea.
Medical examination
Medically reviewed by Sohaib Imtiaz, MD, Chief Medical Officer of Verywell Health
Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education