Breast Cancer 101
A Guide to Breast Cancer by Susan G. Komen
CHAPTER 15
Living with Metastatic Breast Cancer
CHAPTER 15
Living with Metastatic Breast Cancer
Chapter Overview
Metastatic breast cancer is breast cancer that has spread from the breast to other organs in the body, such as the bones, lungs, liver or brain.
This chapter discusses signs and symptoms of metastatic breast cancer, current treatments, potential new treatment options and symptom as well as pain management.
It also discusses the importance of support, hospice care and the role of clinical trials for people with metastatic breast cancer.
The following topics are discussed in this section:
-
Metastatic Breast Cancer
- What is metastatic breast cancer?
- Treatment considerations
- Hormone therapy
- Ovarian suppression
- HER2-targeted therapies
- Chemotherapy
- PARP inhibitors
- Immunotherapy
- Antibody-drug conjugates
- Surgery
- Monitoring
-
Emerging Treatment Options
- SERDs
- CDK7 inhibitors
- PI3 kinase inhibitors
- Immunotherapy
- Antibody-drug conjugates
- PARP inhibitors
- G-quadruplex stabilizers
- Circulating tumor cells / circulating tumor DNA
-
Symptom Management
- Palliative care
- Bone strengthening therapy
- Loss of appetite
- Nausea
- Fatigue
- Anemia
-
Pain Management
- Goal of pain management
- Neuropathic pain
- Visceral pain
- Somatic pain
- Radiation therapy
- Over the counter pain drugs
- Opioids
- Side effects of pain medication
- Other drugs to reduce pain
-
Support
- Counseling
- Benefits of support
- Support groups
- Loved ones
- Support resources
-
Hospice & End-of-Life Care
- Hospice philosophy
- Palliative care
- Hospice care delivery
- When hospice care is appropriate
- Cost of hospice care
- End-of-life discussions
-
Clinical Trials
- Benefits of clinical trials
- Information on joining clinical trials
- Resources for people with metastatic breast cancer