A Guide To Advanced Breast Cancer Symptoms And What To Look Out For
A guide to advanced breast cancer symptoms and what to look out for
Women who do not pay heed to the early signs of breast cancer are the ones who usually develop metastatic breast cancer. Stage 4, or advanced breast cancer, can be treated, although it is not completely curable.
How does advanced breast cancer affect people in the country?
- Currently, there are up to 30% of women in the country who develop advanced breast cancer symptoms.
- Women have 89% more chances of surviving for 5 more years after getting diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer.
What should one know about advanced breast cancer symptoms?
- Advanced breast cancer or metastatic cancer has many symptoms that can be easily confused with those of other diseases. This is what makes it extremely confusing to pinpoint which symptoms are the causes of advanced breast cancer.
- The advanced breast cancer symptoms can be seen in the brain, lymph nodes, liver, bones, and lungs. The symptoms will vary according to the area that is affected due to breast cancer.
- The symptoms can take a few weeks and sometimes even months to develop; it is not necessary that one develops all the symptoms at once.
- However, it is a good idea to get an appointment with a doctor if one experiences even one of those symptoms.
What are the general symptoms of metastatic cancer?
- There are 5 signs of breast cancer that may indicate that one’s breast cancer has spread to other areas. Initially, one may experience low energy levels, loss of appetite, weakness, becoming extremely tired, and having pain in the chest.
- One may not feel like doing anything, such as one’s daily chores, and overall, one may be feeling blue. One can experience these symptoms gradually over a course of a few days, weeks, or months.
What are the metastatic cancer symptoms in the lymph nodes?
- The lymph nodes are found around the armpit area. This is usually where the cancer cells spread first due to their proximity to the breasts. One usually experiences some sort of swelling in the armpit area, which may or may not be painful.
- When one feels it, they can feel a small lump. One should watch out for this near their collarbone or under their arm.
What are the symptoms of metastatic cancer in the bone?
- The advanced breast cancer symptoms in the bone are common. Metastatic cancer affects the following the most: the spine, pelvis, ribs, skull, and bones of the arms and legs.
- The most common symptom is some sort of pain in the bone. When one tries to move, the pain can get worse. The pain can cause discomfort while sleeping. One might feel like they are unable to move fast or even move at all due to the excruciating pain.
- When one ignores the earlier symptoms of cancer that have spread to the bones, the bones become more prone to breakage. This is a serious issue that can cause a lot of pain.
- Once the bone cells are affected, one might experience a myriad of symptoms. These include lack of decisiveness, nausea, mood swings, extreme thirst, and exhaustion.
What are the advanced breast cancer symptoms in the liver?
- One of the primary duties of the liver is to help with the digestion process. When cancer cells spread to this part of one’s body, digestion problems occur.
- One might start to lose weight rapidly, as their body is unable to absorb the necessary nutrients.
- One might experience abdominal pain.
- Jaundice is another common symptom due to bile build-up in the blood.
- The liver can function to a level even when it has been affected by the cancer cells.
What are the symptoms of metastatic cancer in the lungs?
- The advanced breast cancer symptoms in the lungs cause breathing issues.
- One will notice that they cannot breathe deeply and may be short of breath most of the time. People can experience coughing.
- One may feel pain in their chest and the inability to breathe properly.
What are the metastatic cancer symptoms in the brain?
- The symptoms of stage 4 cancer in the brain can vary.
- Some of the most common symptoms include vomiting sensations, pain in certain areas of the brain, and headaches that refuse to go away no matter what one does.
- One may experience seizures too.
Where can one learn more about metastatic breast cancer?
- There are many useful resources for breast cancer on the internet.
- Many websites include information about the latest advanced breast cancer symptoms. Check them out for more information.