Metastatic breast cancer occurs when cells from the original breast tumor spread beyond the breast to other parts of the body. Cancer cells spread from one point or organ to the other through the blood stream or the lymph system. Even if cancer cells spread from the breast to areas such as the lungs, bones, brain, skin or even the liver, it is still called breast cancer. This type of cancer is also called metastatic disease and is classified as stage 4 cancer.

Treatment for this form of breast cancer usually focuses on extending a woman’s life and maintaining the best quality of life possible. Hormone therapy is one of the methods used in treating metastatic breast cancer. This therapy blocks the effects of estrogen or reduces estrogen levels. This helps by reducing the growth of breast cancer cells throughout the body.

In radiation therapy, penetrating beams of high-energy rays are used to kill and hinder the growth of cancer cells while in biological or novel targeted therapy, targets cancerous cells with certain biologic therapy features. In special cases, surgery may be used to remove the primary tumor or a metastatic site to ease the symptoms. Surgery is hardly used to treat this form of breast cancer because the cancerous cells are never in any one place.

Chemotherapy is another treatment method that uses drugs to destroy cancer cells especially those that have, spread to areas other than the originating organ. It is an effective method of treating breast cancer as well as metastatic breast cancer.

Mercy Maranga Reports on Health and Fitness issues. Visit Her Site here for more information on cancer and its treatment Cancer