Metastatic cancer refers to any cancer that’s spreading beyond the organ or tissue where it originated. Cancer metastasis, especially distant metastasis, is the most severe form of cancer. Cancer mortality rate peaks at this stage, and it can lead to a high risk of cancer recurrence, even if the initial tumour is removed from the body. 

Metastatic breast cancer is similar to cancer, often spreading to nearby organs like the lungs or the liver or even in the blood to distant organs like the brain. Even though breast cancer can be asymptomatic for the most part, metastatic breast cancer symptoms are generally common and can be used to get the condition diagnosed at the earliest. 

Thanks to the advancements in medical technology, there are several metastatic breast cancer treatment options today which can be used to manage the condition despite a late diagnosis. So, what are the metastatic breast cancer symptoms that you should never ignore? Let’s find out.

Metastatic Breast Cancer Signs You Shouldn’t Ignore
 

Pain in Your Breast

When it comes to metastatic breast cancer symptoms, breast pain is among the common symptoms of the condition that you shouldn’t ignore. In this instance, the pain can vary based on your specific case. It can be sharp or dull, with patients even saying that the pain feels like a burning sensation inside the body. The type of pain you’re experiencing depends a lot on the spread of cancer, how it's affecting your nearby breast tissues and the size of the tumour. The pain can also radiate to nearby areas such as your armpit, shoulders, or chest. This pain is generally constant and is worsened when you perform activities. If you are experiencing the symptoms mentioned above and the pain is only affecting one breast, it can be an important sign of metastatic breast cancer.

Painless Lump in Your Breast or Armpit

Painless lumps in your breasts can also be an indicator of cancer and need to be medically checked. In some cases, lumps in the breasts are not cancerous, even if they are a tumour. However, they need to be checked out and biopsied to understand their true nature. In any case, lumps in your breast may require you to go through treatment, even if they are not cancerous. However, in the case of metastatic breast cancer, the lumps, even if they are painless, are often hard and immovable. Unlike other breast lumps, they are not tender to the touch and are irregularly shaped when you feel them. These lumps also grow in size over time, marking the growth of the tumour. The location of these lumps can be anywhere from your breasts to your armpits. A painless lump that’s growing over time in your breasts is among the red flag signs of metastatic breast cancer.

Chest Pain or Breathing Difficulties

Chest pain and breathing difficulties are signs that metastatic breast cancer has spread to the lungs. It can be a severe medical progression of the cancer that requires immediate medical attention. It is crucial to note that a risk of breast cancer and chest pain does not mean the two conditions are linked. Other symptoms mentioned above, like lump in the breast or pain in your armpit or breasts, have also to be present for the two conditions to be considered linked. Chest pain and breathing difficulties are generally serious medical conditions and require appropriate medical attention. In the case of metastatic breast cancer, these symptoms can warrant doctors to recommend systemic treatments like radiation therapy, targeted therapy, and chemotherapy to manage the condition and put the cancer in remission.

Swelling in Your Breasts

Swelling or inflammation in the breasts can be caused by a number of factors. However, in the case of metastatic breast cancer, the inflammation in the breast is easily recognisable due to various characteristics. Firstly, the inflammation caused by metastatic breast cancer is uneven and, in most cases, will only impact one breast, making it significantly larger than the other one. The swelling in your breasts can also change the feel of the breast, making it harder or softer. Lastly, it can change the skin texture of your breasts and add an orange feel-like texture to the inflamed area, which can also cause the inflamed area to become red and warm. These symptoms can appear all at once or in a few cases, depending on your case. The symptoms mentioned above are vital in differentiating the inflammation caused by metastatic breast cancer from other conditions. So, if you are experiencing these symptoms, be sure to get the necessary medical attention as soon as possible.

Unexplained Pain in The Neck or Chest

Pain in the neck or chest can be a sign of cancer metastasis to the bones and joints. This is a serious medical complication of breast cancer and requires thorough medical attention, including systemic treatments, to be managed. As mentioned earlier, a prior diagnosis of breast cancer, along with these symptoms, indicates cancer metastasis. Even if you have not been diagnosed with breast cancer yet, certain signs can help you identify whether the pain you’re experiencing is related to cancer metastasis or not. One of the key differentiating factors for pain that’s caused by cancer metastasis is that the pain doesn’t subside. The pain is persistent and keeps worsening over time. The pain also originates suddenly with no proper cause for it. Lastly, even though the pain is localised, it is deep and dull, which makes being active very difficult.

Unexplained Weight Loss or Loss of Appetite

Unexplained weight loss, along with some or all of the other symptoms mentioned above, can be one of the most important metastatic breast cancer symptoms. Cancer is often linked with unexplained weight loss and a significant loss of appetite. Sometimes, sudden or unintentional weight loss can be an indication that the cancer has spread to the liver. It is important to discuss sudden weight loss with your doctors and get a thorough understanding of the underlying cause. If you are experiencing some of the symptoms already mentioned above, it could mean a higher risk of breast cancer, which has spread to the liver. It is possible to put the condition into remission with thorough treatment and medical attention.

Headache and Difficulty Speaking

Headaches and speech problems are neurological symptoms. These symptoms, along with a breast cancer diagnosis, can indicate distant metastasis of the cancer into the brain. Severe headaches that are relentless, along with speech problems such as difficulty finding the right words, slurred speech, and general confusion, are common symptoms. You need to get thorough medical attention if you are experiencing these symptoms, even if you have not yet been diagnosed with breast cancer. Doctors will perform screening tests and attend to the presented symptoms based on your cancer risk factors and plan a thorough treatment option. If left unchecked, these symptoms can worsen over time and lead to nausea and even seizures.

Fatigue and Physical Weakness

Just like losing weight, fatigue and general weakness or inability to perform daily tasks are some of the red flag signs of metastatic breast cancer. Combined with the other symptoms discussed above, it could mean the cancer has metastasised to other organs and is impacting your body’s energy to perform daily tasks. The type of fatigue caused by metastatic breast cancer differs significantly from regular fatigue and exhaustion. This is a type of fatigue that doesn’t go away when you rest or sleep, and it worsens over time, increasing your body’s weakness. Physical weakness and fatigue are often accompanied by unexplained weight loss, which helps doctors narrow the diagnostic possibilities. Based on the diagnosis of breast cancer and its metastasis, fatigue and physical weakness could signify cancer spread to the liver.

Nipple Inversion & Other Changes To The Breast

Nipple inversion is an important direct symptom of breast cancer, and it could indicate breast cancer of any advanced stages, including metastatic breast cancer. Other changes to the nipple include dimpling in the nipple, changes to its colour, and scaling around the skin of the nipple. These changes are common symptoms of breast cancer and need to be taken seriously. Upon further diagnostic testing, such as biopsies, doctors can determine the stage of breast cancer and recommend metastatic breast cancer treatment options if you have stage four breast cancer. Various systemic treatment options like radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and targeted therapy are prescribed to manage the condition and put it into remission.

Nipple Ulceration and Discharge Leakage

Yellow or reddish discharge from the nipples can signify malignancy in the breast. This is especially so if you are not breastfeeding at the time. The discharge can be an important symptom of metastatic breast cancer that should not be ignored. Similar to discharge leakage, sores on the nipples or ulcers are also advanced symptoms that can indicate breast cancer. You need to get immediate medical attention upon discovering these symptoms and get the medical help you need. Breast cancer has the highest survival rates when it is diagnosed as soon as possible, no matter the stage of cancer. So, if you are experiencing any significant changes to your nipples, be sure to discuss them with your doctors at the earliest.

Conclusion

These are some of the most crucial metastatic breast cancer symptoms that you should never ignore. If you are experiencing these symptoms it is crucial to report them to your doctor and get a diagnosis at the earliest. With early diagnosis, it is possible to treat breast cancer and put the condition in remission. Even with metastatic breast cancer, a combination of surgical and non-surgical treatments can help you manage the condition. For more information about breast cancer, be sure to check out MASSH. 

We specialise in minimally invasive surgical treatments for breast cancer that are safe and offer quick recovery for patients. Our treatments are highly specialised and performed by the top oncological surgeons in India to ensure accurate removal of malignant tumours without the risk of peripheral damage to surrounding structures. Check out our website and request a callback today to learn more.