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Breast Cancer spreading
elsewhere in the body
Most people understand breast cancer as
something that happens in the breast. However it can spread via lymphatics
to nearby lymph nodes usually those under the arm. That is why surgery for
breast cancer always involves some type of surgery for the glands under
the arm- either axillary clearance, sampling or sentinel node biopsy.
Breast cancer can also spread to other parts of the body via blood
vessels. So it can spread to the lungs, pleura (the lining of the lungs),
the liver, the brain and most commonly to the bones.
Seventy percent of the time that breast cancer spreads to other locations,
it spreads to bone, especially the vertebrae and the long bones of the
arms, legs and ribs. Breast cancer cells "set up housekeeping" in the
bones and form tumors. When breast cancer is found in bones, it has
usually spread to more than one site. At this stage, it is treatable,
often for many years, but it is not curable.
Like normal breast cells, these tumors in the bone often thrive on female
hormones, especially estrogen. Therefore, the doctor often treats the
patient with medicines that lower her estrogen levels.
Usually the breast cancer spreads to many bones where it eats away at the
health bone, causing weak spots. The bones break easily at those weak
spots. That is why you will see breast cancer patients wearing braces,
using a wheel chair or complaining of aching bones. If a patient had
breast cancer in the past and notices pain in her bones, she should see
her doctor.
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History of breast cancer
Types of breast cancer
Risk factors and etiology
Age
Alcohol
Environmental causes
Genes
Hormones
Light levels
Obesity
Unproven
Prevention in high-risk
individuals
Prevention of
Environmental Causes
Symptoms
Screening
Diagnosis
Treatment
Surgery
Radiation therapy
Indications for radiation
Types of radiotherapy
Side effects of
radiation
Systemic therapy
Chemotherapy
Hormonal treatment
Targeted therapy
Preclinical
Flax seeds
Alternative medicine
Prognosis
Breast cancer in males
Spreading elsewhere
Breast cancer awareness
References |
