Therapies will differ depending on the patient's history of treatment and how well she responds to specific therapies. Surgery is rarely an option because the cancer is not usually confined to one specific spot on the organ. Radiation therapy may be used, depending on the extent to which the cancer has spread throughout an organ. The purpose of radiation therapy in cases of metastatic breast cancer is usually to shrink the cancer and provide pain relief. If cancer is only on one or more spots of the bone, for example, radiation may be done.
Chemotherapy is treatment with anti-cancer drugs.
Most courses are three to six months long and may be given daily, weekly, or monthly, depending on the body's response to the drugs. Researchers are investigating whether aggressive, high-dose chemotherapy is effective in patients with advanced breast cancer. A recent study conducted at Duke University Medical Center showed that high-dose chemotherapy may significantly improve a patient's outcome. However, other studies have shown no advantage. Each woman is unique and her situation will also be unique.