MedifocusHealth

• Definition of Stage IV - The cancer is metastatic, meaning it has spread from the breast to other parts of body such as the liver, lung, or bones.

• Treatments for Stage IV Breast Cancer - Treatment of stage IV or metastatic breast cancer may include the following:

  • Hormone therapy and/or systemic chemotherapy with or without trastuzumab (Herceptin)
  • Radiation therapy and/or surgery for relief of pain and other symptoms
  • Bisphosphonate drugs to reduce bone disease and pain when cancer has spread to the bone.

• Outcome Data for Stage IV Breast Cancer

Two studies found that the aromatase inhibitor anastrozole (Arimidex) as first-line treatment in metastastatic postmenopausal breast cancer was at least as effective as tamoxifen in delaying disease progression and may cause fewer blood clotting events and vaginal bleeding.

Studies have shown that antiestrogens (primarily tamoxifen) resulted in tumor responses in a substantial proportion of women with metastatic breast cancer. The likelihood of benefit with antiestrogen treatment was greatest in postmenopausal women with estrogen-receptor positive tumors.

Studies have found that combination chemotherapy regimens ,such as CAF, containing an anthracycline (e.g.,doxorubicin) [doxorubicin (Adriamycin), cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan), and fluorouracil (Fluorouracil, 5-FU, Adrucil) as first line treatment increased response rates, time to progression, and survival compared with other chemotherapy regimens.

• Prognosis for Stage IV Breast Cancer

The 5-year survival rate for Stage IV breast cancer is 20%

Breast Cancer Recurrence Following Treatment

Treatment of recurrent breast cancer (cancer that has come back after treatment) in the breast or chest wall may include:

• Surgery (radical or modified radical mastectomy), radiation therapy, or both.
• Systemic chemotherapy or hormone therapy.
• A clinical trial of trastuzumab (Herceptin) combined with systemic chemotherapy.