Lets face it: Ametastatic breast cancerdiagnosis is scary.
While we cant currently cure metastatic breast cancer, we can treat it.
Heres what it’s crucial that you know about life expectancy after a metastatic breast cancer diagnosis.
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But not everyone who gets breast cancer later develops metastatic breast cancer.
The key in of breast cancer with which a woman is initially diagnosed is also a factor.
Women with hormone-incentive breast cancers have a higher risk of it spreading and becoming a metastatic disease.
Eventually, treatments will fail.
Many women with metastatic breast cancer will live only a handful of years, says Hendershott.
But aboutone-third will live at least five yearsafter their diagnosis.
At this time point, the prognosis is still quite variable from patient to patient, she says.
But in general, an oncologist can discuss the average and best- and worst-case scenarios.
While metastatic cancer isnt curable, it can be treated.
There is no one experience with metastatic breast cancer, says Hendershott.
Because each persons [metastatic breast] cancer is different, treatment will be individualized as well.
And health care providers often battle hormone-receptor-positive breast cancersuch as estrogen receptor-positive or progesterone-receptor-positive cancers with hormone therapy.
Lifestyle changes can also affect a womans prognosis and improve her quality of life.
And lastly, relying on a supportive community can make a big difference.
A local, community support group who are going through this experience too can also help, says Hendershott.
Jillian Krameris a journalist who writes about health, wellness, science, and adventure.
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