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What is secondary breast cancer?

Secondary breast cancer, secondary tumours, metastatic disease, secondaries and advanced breast cancer are all different ways of saying the same thing. The original cancer in the breast is known as ‘primary' or ‘early' breast cancer. If breast cancer does spread, it is most likely to be found in the bones, liver or lungs, though it can sometimes be found in the brain, or other areas. It may affect one, or more than one location at the same time Even the best treatment for early breast cancer doesn't always remove every cancer cell. Most commonly, secondary breast cancer develops from cells that were left behind. Other times, cancer cells start to travel around the body before the tumour in the breast is found and treated. In this case, if it is already large enough to see on a scan, secondary breast cancer may be diagnosed at the same time as the primary breast cancer. Sometimes, less commonly, a secondary tumour is the first to be found and diagnosed. Breast Cancer Month Throughout October, breast cancer awareness month, BCNA is promoting resources which support women living with breast cancer. BCNA recently launched Hope & Hurdles our new, unique resource for women living with secondary breast cancer, the first of its kind in Australia. Ann Town, a member of BCNA’s Advanced Breast Cancer Working Party helped drive and develop the Pack and was integral to highlighting women’s experiences of living with the disease and how it affects her, her family and friends. To read more about Ann and her own story please follow this link.     When breast cancer returns -Oct 4 2007 234.19 Kb