Each year, more than 290,000 people are diagnosed withbreast cancerin the United States.
This article will highlight important facts and statistics you should know about metastatic breast cancer.
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Metastatic Breast Cancer Overview
Metastatic breast canceris also called stage 4 breast cancer.
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It is breast cancer that has spread to distant parts of the body or to other organs.
The most common areas for breast cancer to spread are the bones, brain, lungs, or liver.
Metastatic breast cancer that is initially diagnosed as such is calledde novo metastatic breast cancer.
Breast cancer that recurs and has spread is called recurrent metastatic breast cancer.
Statistics specifically for metastatic breast cancer often are not collected.
It can be difficult to get accurate statistics and figures for many topics in this kind of cancer.
When statistics are collected, they are often for de novo metastatic breast cancer and not recurrent.
How Common Is Metastatic Breast Cancer?
This can also be called a distant recurrence.
Any kind or stage of breast cancer can metastasize.
Its not possible to know or predict which ones will and which ones wont.
What Are the Mortality Rates for Metastatic Breast Cancer?
While metastatic breast cancer is not curable, it is treatable.
Treatments can helpextend ones lifeand help control the spread of cancer and minimize symptoms.
The five-year survival rate for women with metastatic breast cancer is 29%.
For men, it is 22%.
Treatments are becoming more focused and targeted.
What Are Survival Rates?
It can be described in a variety of ways.
Overall survival rates for those with metastatic breast cancer have improved over the last few decades.
Screening and Early Detection
Regularscreening for breast cancerand early detection can help improve survival rates.
It is not curable, but it is treatable.
Better and more targeted treatments are being developed regularly, so improvements in long-term survival are possible.
American Society of Clinical Oncology.Breast cancer - metastatic: statistics.
American Society of Clinical Oncology.Breast cancer - metastatic: introduction.
Metastatic Breast Cancer web link.Statistics for metastatic breast cancer.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.What is breast cancer screening?
National Library of Medicine.Diagnostic tests for metastatic breast cancer.
