Saturday, September 21, 2013

The Best Treatments for Metastatic Breast Cancer

Breast cancer refers to cancer that begins in the glands or ducts of the breast (adenocarcinoma) or the tissue of the breast (sarcoma). Although if affects both men and women, it is most common in women. Like most cancers, treatment depends on the "staging" of the cancer. Staging considers several factors, including the size of the tumor, the presence or absence of lymph node involvements, and the extent of metastasis. Once cancer spreads, or becomes metastatic, it is not curable. However, there are treatments to slow the metastasis and/or minimize pain associated with metastasis.

Common Sites of Metastases

    Treatment for metastases depends on the location and extent of the metastases. Breast cancer metastases often appear in the bones, lungs and liver (in descending order of prevalence). Treatment is not a cure, but is instead designed to improve quality of life and extend longevity. When the cancer presents in the breast, lungs, liver or other part of the body, it is not considered "liver cancer" or "lung cancer' but is instead called metastases related to primary breast cancer. Systemic (or whole body) treatments may be used, or therapy may target the specific area of metastases, depending on the situation.

Bone Metastases

    Treatment for bone metastases involves the use of drugs and other therapies to minimize the growth of cancer cells, protect the bones, and prevent bone pain or fractures associated with metastasis. Bisphosphonates, including Zometa and Aredia, have improved the prognosis and quality of life for patients with bone metastases. These bisphosphonates slow cancer growth, help the body maintain normal blood calcium levels, and reduce bone destruction caused by metastases.

Lung Metastases

    Approximately 19% of breast cancer metastases occurs in the lungs. Lung metastases is not curable and there are not an extensive amount of specific treatment options. Radiation may be used to minimize pain and to help ease breathing problems associated with lungs, and the systemic treatments may help to slow the growth of the cancer cells in the lungs.

Liver Metastases

    Surgery may be possible to treat metastasizes in the liver, because the liver has amazing regenerative properties. Up to 80% of the liver can be removed and will grow back within weeks. However, because the cancer in the liver is caused by metastasis and is a secondary cancer, the cancer may continue to return, even after surgery, to the liver or to other spots within the body.

Systemtic Whole Body Treatments

    Systemic treatments may be administered for any type of metastasizes, alone or in conjunction with other therapies. Systemic treatments include hormonal therapy and chemotherapy. For hormone receptive breast cancers, estrogen blockers (hormone therapy) may help slow the growth of cancer by restricting estrogen that the cancer cells need to grow. A drug called herceptin may also be used to block the chemicals that stimulate the uncontrolled growth of cancer cells. Chemotherapy is also used when the hormone therapies and herceptin are not effective, when the cancer is not receptive to hormones, and/or when the metastases has primarily affected the liver or lung(s).


  • Breast cancer - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

    en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Breast_cancer

    Breast cancer is a type of cancer originating from breast tissue, most commonly from the inner lining of milk ducts or the lobules that supply the ducts with milk.


  • Breast Cancer Treatment (PDQ) - National Cancer Institute

    www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/treatment/breast/Patient/page6

    Expert-reviewed information summary about the treatment of breast cancer.

  • What Are The Treatment Options And Survival Rates For Metastatic ...

    ezinearticles.com/?What-Are-The-Treatment-Options-And-Survival...

    Jan 02, 2007 What Are The Treatment Options And Survival Rates For Metastatic Colon Cancer. By Groshan Fabiola

  • Eribulin monotherapy versus treatment of physician's choice in ...

    www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(11)60070-6/...

    Eribulin monotherapy versus treatment of physician's choice in patients with metastatic breast cancer (EMBRACE): a phase 3 open-label randomised study. By - Javier ...


  • Pertuzumab - HER2 positive Metastatic Breast Cancer Treatment ...

    www.perjeta.com

    Healthcare Providers can find information about PERJETA, an FDA-approved HER2 dimerization inhibitor (HDI) for first line-treatment of HER2+ metastatic breast cancer.

  • Capecitabine - Metastatic Breast Cancer, Metastatic Colorectal ...

    www.xeloda.com

    Official Site for XELODA(R) (capecitabine) tablets for the treatment of metastatic colorectal and breast cancer as well as adjuvant colon cancer treatment. Learn


  • New developments in the treatment of metastatic gastric cancer ...

    www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov Onco Targets Ther v.4; 2011

    Mar 24, 2011 Patients with metastatic gastric cancer have a poor outcome. The development of new combinations of chemotherapy has led to steady but only modest

  • Breast Cancer: Treatment - National Cancer Institute

    www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/treatment/breast

    Clinical Trials. Find Clinical Trials to Treat Breast Cancer Check for breast cancer treatment trials from NCI's list of cancer clinical trials now accepting patients.


  • Metastatic Breast Cancer Treatment FASLODEX (fulvestrant ...

    www.faslodex.com

    Learn about FASLODEX 500 mg, a treatment option for postmenopausal women with hormone receptor-positive metastatic breast cancer.

  • Prognosis of Metastatic Breast Cancer in the Bone eHow

    www.ehow.com Health Cancer Breast Cancer

    If your breast cancer has spread to the bone, you have stage four breast cancer. While doctors use certain statistics to give a general prognosis, no one can predict ...

  • ihatebreastcancer especially the metastatic kind

    ihatebreastcancer.wordpress.com

    [Sorry, I can't embed the video; you'll have to click here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8fluBsPbP68] My friend Janis asked people with metastatic breast cancer

  • Paclitaxel, Trastuzumab, and Pertuzumab in the Treatment of ...

    clinicaltrials.gov/show/NCT01276041

    The purpose of this study is to see if a combination of drugs can help to treat this type of cancer. One drug is a chemotherapy agent called paclitaxel (Taxol).

  • Treatment for HER2+ Metastatic Breast Cancer Patients-

    www.kadcyla.com/?cid=kad_PS_MBKDBC0001&c=MBKDUA1001

    Learn about KADCYLA (ado-trastuzumab emtansine), the first antibody-drug conjugate for HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer treatment. KADCYLA (ado ...


  • PERJETA (pertuzumab) HER2+ Metastatic Breast Cancer Treatment

    www.perjeta.com/patient/?cid=per_pa_F001183_P000517&c=MBPTUA1001

    Learn more about treatment with PERJETA (pertuzumab) treatment for previously untreated HER2 Positive metastatic breast cancer. What does PERJETA treat?

  • Metastatic Breast Cancer Treatment & Prognosis: Johns

    www.hopkinsmedicine.org Breast Cancers & Other Conditions

    The Johns Hopkins Breast Center in Baltimore, MD, offers treatment for metastatic breast cancer, also called stage IV breast cancer.


  • Treatment of triple-negative metastatic breast cancer: toward ...

    oncologypro.esmo.org/meeting-resources/educational-books/35th-esmo...

    Treatment of triple-negative metastatic breast cancer: toward individualized targeted treatments or chemosensitization?

  • Breast Cancer Topic: Who is the best breast cancer surgeon in

    community.breastcancer.org/forum/96/topic/757653

    Breast Cancer Discussion Forums - Access the shared knowledge of thousands of people affected by breast cancer

  • Breast Cancer - Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment of Breast Cancer ...

    health.nytimes.com Times Health Guide b

    Breast cancer is cancer that starts in the tissues of the breast. There are two main types of breast cancer: Ductal carcinoma starts in the tubes (ducts) that move ...

  • Metastasis - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

    en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metastasis

    Metastasis, or metastatic disease, is the spread of a cancer from one organ or part to another non-adjacent organ or part. The new occurrences of disease thus ...


  • The Best Alternative Cancer Treatment - Keladi Tikus Ubat Kanser

    www.keladitikusubatkanser.com

    Keladi Tikus Portal - cure cancer cells naturally with keladi tikus. Buy the best alternative cancer treatment herb here.We plant and manufacture keladi tikus in ...


  • Treatment for Metastatic Cancer in the Bones

    www.webmd.com WebMD Home Cancer Health Center

    An overview of treatments for metastatic cancer in the bone, including how they work and possible side effects.


  • Metastatic Breast Cancer: Urgent treatment and survival

    www.steadyhealth.com Articles Family Health Women's Health

    However, some women, frightened by the diagnosis, look for a quick-fix treatment, and wonder about their survival chances. Metastatic breast cancer When breast cancer ...

  • Breastcancer.org - Breast Cancer Information and Awareness

    www.breastcancer.org

    Breastcancer.org is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing the most reliable, complete, and up-to-date information about breast cancer.


  • HER2+ Breast Cancer Treatment with Herceptin (trastuzumab)

    www.herceptin.com

    Find information about Herceptin (trastuzumab), a targeted therapy for HER2 Positive Metastatic Breast Cancer and HER2 Positive Gastric Cancer. Who is Herceptin for?

0 comments:

Post a Comment