Metastatic Breast Cancer

America received a shocking piece of news in March 2007. John Edward's wife, Elizabeth, had been diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer. She spoke calmly, with inner strength, about how she had asked her husband to continue his presidential campaign, and how she wanted to campaign by his side. She did not want to be best known by her illness; she wanted, in fact, needed, to carry on as normally as she could.

When cancer cells break away from the originally affected site, and spread to other parts of the body through the blood or lymphatic system, this is referred to as metastatic cancer. When the original cancer site - or primary site, as it is referred to by physicians - is the breast - and cancer cells spread from this location - this becomes known as metastatic breast cancer. The cancer that has moved from the breast and developed in other locations becomes known as the secondary cancer.

The treatment options for this cancer are the same as treating any other cancer. But treatment must be aggressive based on the stage of this particular disease. Because the definition of metastatic breast cancer is cancer that has spread from the breast to other parts of the body, treatment must be speedy and assertive in order to stop the spread of the cells to any further locations in the body.

Sometimes, like Mrs. Edwards, it is a recurrence of the original cancer. However, in one out of ten diagnosed, the first diagnosis that a woman hears is metastatic breast cancer.

Work with your doctors to plan your medical treatments and to be a partner in your health care. Your doctors will consider where the cancer is located and what type of cancer treatments you had in the past. Your wishes and quality of life are also important factors.

Treatment is palliative, improving quality of life, relieving symptoms and aimed at extending a woman's lifetime. But there are new treatments coming that are giving more hope to those patients with this cancer. Many women with this illness choose to become part of a clinical trial in order to access treatments that are not yet approved by the FDA.

Palliative care to relieve symptoms from both the cancer and treatment involves drug and non-drug treatments such as relaxation therapy, acupuncture, and dietary management. Besides physical symptoms, palliative care for patients who are being treated or who cannot be cured focuses on spiritual and emotional needs, as well as physical needs.

North American white women have the highest rates of breast cancer in the world, but the 5-year survival rate for all stages (Stage 1, Stage 2, Stage 3, and Stage 4) combined is 88% for the U.S. A recent study found European countries have lower 5-year breast cancer survival rates, with England at 77.8% and Ireland at 76.2% (Lancet Oncology). The difference in these survival rates is usually attributed to life-saving early detection.