Metastatic breast cancer — also known as stage IV or advanced breast cancer — occurs when breast cancer spreads from your breast to other areas of your body. When breast cancer cells travel to a new location through your bloodstream or lymphatic system, they can cause tumors to form. Metastatic breast cancer commonly occurs in the chest wall, liver, lungs, bones, and brain.
UPMC medical oncologists offer some of the most advanced treatment options for metastatic breast cancer, including chemotherapy, immunotherapy, hormone therapy, and targeted therapy. Our experts also participate in national, multicenter clinical trials that research promising medical oncology treatments for metastatic breast cancer.
Related services include:
Metastatic breast cancer — also known as stage IV or advanced breast cancer — occurs when breast cancer spreads from your breast to other areas of your body. When breast cancer cells travel to a new location through your bloodstream or lymphatic system, they can cause tumors to form.
Metastatic breast cancer commonly occurs in the chest wall, liver, lungs, bones, and brain.
Research shows that 20% to 30% of women who receive a breast cancer diagnosis will later be diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer.
When breast cancer cells travel to a new location through your bloodstream or lymphatic system, they can cause metastatic breast cancer tumors to form.
Metastatic breast cancer most often occurs when initial breast cancer treatments don’t destroy all the cancer cells, leading to a breast cancer recurrence months or years after treatment is complete. Sometimes, metastatic breast cancer can be an initial diagnosis.
You may be at higher risk for metastatic breast cancer if you were previously diagnosed with breast cancer and:
The complications of metastatic breast cancer depend on which area of the body is affected.
Complications may include:
There is nothing you can do to prevent metastatic breast cancer. However, you may be able to lower your risk of developing metastatic breast cancer by following your breast cancer treatment plan and taking care of your overall health.
Symptoms of metastatic breast cancer depend on the area of your body where the cancer has spread.
Early signs of metastatic breast cancer may include:
Symptoms in other areas of your body may include:
If you have symptoms of metastatic breast cancer, you should schedule an appointment with your oncologist right away.
To diagnose metastatic breast cancer, your doctor will ask about your symptoms, perform a physical exam, and order tests.
If your doctor suspects metastatic breast cancer, they will:
Your doctor may order diagnostic imaging studies, including:
Depending on the part of your body where you are having symptoms, your doctor may also order tests, including:
Your doctor may also recommend procedures to remove fluid from certain areas of your body, such as your chest or spine, to check for cancer cells.
Metastatic breast cancer is not curable. However, there are treatments that can extend your survival while helping you manage symptoms and improve your quality of life. Your doctor will talk to you about your prognosis after your metastatic breast cancer diagnosis.
According to the American Cancer Society, the metastatic breast cancer five-year relative survival rate is 32%. That means women with metastatic breast cancer are 32% as likely as women in the general population to live for at least five years after being diagnosed.
Metastatic breast cancer cannot be cured. The goals of metastatic breast cancer treatment are to slow or stop cancer growth, extend survival, manage symptoms, and maintain quality of life.
In most cases, metastatic breast cancer is treated with systemic (whole-body) medical oncology therapies. Surgery or radiation therapy may be used to relieve symptoms or manage complications, depending on which areas of your body are affected.
Medical oncology treatment options for metastatic breast cancer include:
Chemotherapy is a breast cancer treatment that uses medications that travel through your bloodstream to kill cancer cells throughout your body. It may be used by itself or in combination with hormone therapy, immunotherapy, or targeted therapy.
In people with hormone-receptor-positive breast cancer, breast cancer cells have proteins that attach to estrogen and progesterone hormones, which occur naturally in the body. These hormones cause breast cancer to grow and spread.
Hormone therapy slows or stops cancer growth by preventing hormones from attaching to the breast cancer cells.
Immunotherapy is a breast cancer treatment that uses medications to boost your immune system’s ability to identify and kill cancer cells.
Targeted therapies work similarly to antibodies produced naturally by your immune system. These antibodies identify and attack foreign cells, including cancer cells. A type of targeted therapy medication known as monoclonal antibodies uses antibodies specially “programmed” in a lab to find and destroy breast cancer cells.
UPMC experts participate in national, multicenter clinical trials that study promising medical oncology treatments for metastatic breast cancer.
This means you can participate in research that has the potential to enhance breast cancer care and access groundbreaking treatments years before they become available to the public. Your doctor will let you know if a medical oncology clinical trial might be an option for you.
When you choose UPMC for metastatic breast cancer care, you will receive:
By UPMC Editorial Staff. Last reviewed on 2025-09-18.
Chat Keywords List
