Less often, the brain is the first place where advanced breast cancer travels.
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Once breast cancer becomes metastatic, its no longer considered curable.
But treatments can slow its progression and improve quality of life for many people with this disease.
From there, the cancer can reach other organs.
This test uses X-rays to create detailed cross-sectional images of the brain.
But brain metastasis is challenging because it can be hard for medicine to get through the blood-brain barrier.
Breast cancer that has spread to the brain can cause any or all of these symptoms.
It attaches to the cancer cell and delivers chemotherapy directly to it.
Trastuzumab-emtansine is approved for people with HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer who are no longer responding to trastuzumab and chemotherapy.
Its an IV infusion given once every three weeks.
Hormone therapy only works for hormone receptor (HR)positive breast cancers.
You dont have to wait until youve run out of treatment options tojoin a clinical trial.
Ask the doctor who treats your cancer if any available studies might be a good fit for you.
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Remember that everyone with metastatic breast cancer is different.
General survival rates cant predict what will happen to you.
Talk with your doctor about all your available treatment options and best next steps.
How Is Metastatic Breast Cancer Treated?
