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‘I didn’t know what metastasis meant, so terminology was important for me. When I called up a cancer resource centre about an advanced breast cancer support group I said to the coordinator I would be interested but I have metastatic breast cancer and she said “metastatic, advanced and secondary breast cancer are often used interchangeably.” She was the first person to clear that up months after my diagnosis.’
Penny, Victoria
Secondary breast cancer is the term used to describe cancer that has spread from the original site in the breast to other organs or tissues in the body. These may include the lymph nodes that are not located near the breast, or to distant organs, such as the brain, liver or lungs. Secondary breast cancer is also referred to as ‘metastatic’, ‘advanced’, or ‘Stage 4’ breast cancer. When the breast cancer has spread to another distant part of the body, it is known as a breast cancer secondary or a breast cancer metastasis. Advanced or metastatic breast cancer is not currently curable. However, treatments are often able to control the cancer for a number of years.
Most women who are diagnosed with breast cancer are first diagnosed with breast cancer in their breast and/or nearby lymph nodes. This is referred to as 'early' or 'primary' breast cancer. The breast cancer cells may then spread to other parts of the body after their initial diagnosis and treatment. This is referred to as secondary breast cancer.
For some women with breast cancer, secondary breast cancer may be their first diagnosis of breast cancer.
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