Among all the serious diseases that plague the world, cancer remains one of the most dangerous. The unbearable pain that patients at all stages of cancer go through and the suffering it causes to their loved ones is indescribable. If cancer is diagnosed at an early stage, it can be cured with chemotherapy and other treatments. However, metastatic cancer is the final stage of cancer and remains incurable.

What makes cancer even more dangerous is when the cancer cells multiply and begin to spread to other parts of the body.When this cancer spreads to other parts of the body, the deterioration becomes clearly visible.

It is a known fact that our wrong lifestyle and the adulterated food we eat sometimes increase the risk of cancer. Due to our not so healthy lifestyle, the number of people suffering from cancer has increased significantly in recent years. This explains the recent increase in the number of women diagnosed with breast cancer. If left untreated for a long time, the initial breast lump turns into metastatic breast cancer.

What is metastatic breast cancer?

People often think that metastatic breast cancer is a form of breast cancer. But it is the final and deadliest stage of breast cancer. This metastatic breast cancer takes root in the breasts and spreads to other parts of the body, especially the bones, lungs, liver, and brain. Even if breast cancer has spread to the bones, it is still breast cancer. It is not considered bone cancer and can be treated with the same drugs used to treat breast cancer.

Metastatic breast cancer, also known as stage IV breast cancer, secondary breast cancer, or advanced breast cancer, starts in breast tissue and then grows out of control.

Due to errors in the DNA, it begins to mutate and multiply. This causes the cells to become cancerous, or malignant, as they are known.

What causes metastatic breast cancer?

• One of the main causes of metastatic breast cancer is our genes. Many diseases are inherited and passed down from generation to generation. Sometimes, a defective gene skips a generation. However, if there is a family history of breast cancer, the risk is higher.
• Studies have linked estrogen to metastatic breast cancer. Women who are exposed to more estrogen show signs of metastatic breast cancer than those who are only exposed to moderate levels of estrogen.
• Women who start their menstrual cycle before the age of 12 or give birth after the age of 30 are more likely to develop metastatic breast cancer. Women who enter menopause after the age of 55 are also at risk of showing signs of metastatic breast cancer.
• Our diet is also linked to the development of metastatic breast cancer. Excessive alcohol consumption and obesity play a major role in the development of metastatic breast cancer.

What are the signs of metastatic breast cancer?

As mentioned above, metastatic breast cancer can affect different parts of a woman's body – bones, liver, lungs, and brain. Therefore, the symptoms of metastatic breast cancer vary depending on the area affected by metastatic breast cancer.

Signs of Bone Metastasis

When bones are affected, some signs of metastatic breast cancer become more noticeable.

• Bones will swell.
• Since bones are affected, they become very fragile. There is a chance that they can break easily.
• The person will feel severe pain in their joints.

Signs of Brain Metastasis

When the brain is affected, signs of metastatic breast cancer become noticeable.

• Due to the impairment of brain function, the person may experience violent seizures.
• The person may also show behavioral changes.
• Since the cancer affects the brain, it can also distort the person's vision.
• There will be a lingering, constant headache.
• The affected person may often feel the urge to vomit.

Signs of Liver Metastasis

When the liver is affected, some signs of metastatic breast cancer become more noticeable.

• Mutations in liver cells can cause a person to suffer from severe jaundice.
• In addition, this condition can lead to elevated levels of liver enzymes.
• The person may develop a rash.
• In addition, the person can experience severe abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and eventually loss of appetite.

Signs of Lung Metastasis

When metastatic breast cancer spreads to the lungs, the following symptoms become more prominent.

• If the lungs are affected, the person can no longer breathe normally and may suffer from a chronic cough.
• The person may feel tired all the time. Extreme fatigue is one of the symptoms of metastatic breast cancer.
• When the lungs are affected, chest pain is a constant reminder of the presence of metastatic breast cancer.

While the goal of treatment is to relieve the pain caused by metastatic breast cancer, what patients really want is the support of their family.