Today, October 13, is National Metastatic Breast Cancer Awareness Day, bringing attention to the unique needs of women and men living with metastatic, or stage IV, breast cancer. It’s also a chance to celebrate the strength and resilience of our metastatic patients.
It is estimated that 287,8500 Americans will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year. About 6% of breast cancer diagnoses are metastatic. Metastatic breast cancer is cancer that has spread to other parts of the body. While metastatic breast cancer is treatable, it is not curable.
Those with metastatic cancer will receive treatment for the rest of their life. Treatments focus on preventing further spread of the disease and managing symptoms. Today, thanks to advances in treatment, there are patients living for many years with metastatic disease. Unfortunately, even if breast cancer is caught in an early stage, metastatic breast cancer can occur years after a person’s original diagnosis and successful treatment. An estimated 20-30% of women diagnosed with an early stage cancer will go on to be diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer.
At MD Anderson Cancer Center at Cooper, we provide a team approach to the treatment of metastatic breast cancer and our physicians, nurses and staff provide comprehensive, compassionate care to our patients.
To learn more about South Jersey’s largest and most experienced breast cancer team, visit: https://www.cooperhealth.org/services/breast-cancer
If you have metastatic breast cancer and would like to explore novel treatment options, consider seeing an MD Anderson at Cooper breast cancer expert through our Second Opinion Program: Second Opinion Program | Cooper University Health Care (cooperhealth.org)