Metastatic Breast Cancer Life Expectancy

In the US, more than 40,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer annually. It is one of the most common causes of cancer deaths worldwide. Breast cancer is the malignant growth of epithelial cells in the ducts (tubes that carry milk to the nipple) and lobules (glands that make milk) of the breast. Being more common in women, it commonly affects women in between ages of 45 and 55. Before knowing about its life expectancy, let us have a look at what is metastatic breast cancer, and the parameters associated with it.

Metastatic Breast Cancer

Also called Stage IV breast cancer, this is the most advanced type of breast cancer. Metastasis is the condition in which the cancer cells spread from the original tumor site, i.e. breast area to different regions of the body. These cells can travel through the lymphatic system and blood vessels, take root in almost any part of the body. Regional metastases normally spreads to the areas surrounding the breast, whereas the distant metastases may reach up to different organs like the bones, the lungs, and the liver.

• Bone Metastases: There are primarily two types of bone cancer that account for nearly 25% of the metastatic breast cancer: osteolytic and osteoblastic. Osteolytic cancer affects the bones, causing holes to form that makes them susceptible to breaks and fractures. Osteoblastic cancer increases the density of the bones, but also makes them prone to fractures and breaks. However, both the forms of bone cancer cause severe pain.
• Lung Metastases: It occurs when the cancer cells start growing within the lungs, hence, eventually accounting for 60% to 70% of deaths associated with this cancer.
• Liver Metastases: It mainly occurs in two-thirds of metastatic breast cancers when the cancer cells starts to multiply within the liver tissues.

Symptoms

• Scaling or itching (called pruritus) on the nipple
• Development of a breast lump and breast ulcer
• Sudden increase in the mature breast size
• Continuous itching in the skin of the breast
• Change in color and texture of areola (dark pigmented area surrounding the nipple)
• Sudden discharge from the nipples
• Bone fractures and bone pain
• Regional pain and weight loss

Diagnosis and Treatment

The patient has to undergo a staging process which may include tests like clinical breast exams, biopsy, and certain imaging tests such as a chest X-ray, mammogram (X-ray film of the soft tissue of the breast), bone scan, CT scan, and MRI scan, to diagnose the size and location of the cancer.

Treatment mainly focuses on providing relief and extending the metastasis breast cancer life expectancy. However, in this stage it's impossible to destroy all of existing cancer cells, breast cancer treatment may shrink the existing tumors or slow the growth of cancer cells. The treatment which involves surgery followed by radiation, hormonal therapy and chemotherapy, may aim the entire body or local regions to which cancer has metastasized.

Prognosis and Life Expectancy

The prognosis for stage IV breast cancer mainly depends on the location of tumor, extent of metastasis, type of organ affected, the period between the relapse, i.e. (period between the initial treatment and the relapse), etc. The life expectancy of a breast cancer patient is dependent on the type of treatment received. The statistics reveal that life expectancy for metastatic breast cancer in women is 2 - 3 years, but about 25 to 30% of these patients live for 5 years, and 10% do survive even after 10 years. However, the five-year survival rate of a patient diagnosed with stage IV breast cancer is nearly 20%.

Breast cancer research shows that the 5-year survival rate for women detected with breast cancer is about 80%, and approximately 88% of women detected early with the disease do survive longer, around the next 10 years. The life expectancy or survival rates have fortunately improved with the advances in the methods of staging, screening and treatment.