What Happens If You Have Stage 4 Breast Cancer?

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Medical Video: Living With Stage 4 Breast Cancer

In recent years, the number of patients diagnosed with breast cancer in Indonesia continues to increase. In fact, cervical and breast cancer is a cancer with the highest prevalence in Indonesia in 2013.

Stage of breast cancer stage

Broadly speaking, breast cancer is categorized into four stages, namely:

  • Stage 1: this stage is the earliest stage. The diameter of the tumor at this stage is still small, and usually does not exceed two centimeters. But there is the possibility of small group growth of tumors found in lymph nodes.
  • Stage 2: at this stage the process of cancer spread begins. Tumors in the breast will enlarge but not exceed five centimeters. Cancer may begin to appear in some lymph nodes.
  • Stage 3: the doctor classifies this stage as an advanced stage, where the size of the tumor is getting bigger and the spread of the catarrh cells has spread to the lymph nodes and chest tissue.
  • Stage 4: cancer has spread from the breast throughout the body.Stage 4 breast cancer is classified as the worst stage that requires intensive and ongoing therapy.

What does it mean if you are diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer?

If you have been told that you have metastatic breast cancer, this means that the cancer is in stage 4. At this stage the cancer has spread outside the breast tissue to other body parts such as the lungs, liver, bones or even the brain.

Historically, metastatic breast cancer has been considered incurable; the goal of treatment is only to relieve symptoms, improve quality of life and enable prolong the life of the patient.

Metastatic breast cancer is not the same for all sufferers. Based on National Breast Cancer Foundation (NBCF), symptoms in stage 4 will depend on the spread of cancer cells in your body.

Life expectancy of stage 4 breast cancer

American Cancer Society (ACS) states that if the life expectancy of patients with stage 4 breast cancer, for five years after diagnosis, is 22 percent. This percentage is much lower than the initial stage. In stage 3, the 5-year survival rate thereafter is 72 percent. In stage 2, more than 90 percent.

Basically the life expectancy for breast cancer patients depends on the patient's condition. This is for example age, general health, hormone resptor in cancer cells, tissues that have been affected, and suggestions based on the attitude and views of the patient. However, it should be noted that this statistic cannot predict the patient's future health and age. The prognosis of each person is different.

Therefore, early diagnosis and treatment is very important to minimize the risk of developing breast cancer worse. Discuss with your doctor to learn more about individual factors that can affect your prognosis.

Treatment that can be done for patients with stage 4 breast cancer

The presence of hormone receptors in breast cancer cells determines whether hormonal therapy is the right treatment choice or not. If cancer does not have estrogen or progesterone receptors, chemotherapy treatment can be done. This treatment includes surgery, radiation therapy, target therapy, or a combination of these treatment techniques.

Multi-modality treatment (which uses two or more treatment techniques), can increase a patient's chances of recovery or prolong the survival and quality of life of the patient. In addition, the circumstances of each patient can also influence how the treatment will be carried out.

What Happens If You Have Stage 4 Breast Cancer?
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