Question about Metastasis

FineGina

Hi everyone. My mom is three years cancer free from stage 1B. Now we are all good there but I do have a question that I cannot find an answer to anywhere else. My mom has been dealing with COPD for a long time as well as fibromyalgia pain that has settled in her back. She's now on Femara and which she was warned that the Femara would make her disability symptoms much worse. Anyway, she has been having a lot of trouble breathing recently and she's going in for pulmonary tests next month. The nurse she talked to who scheduled the appointment asked her if she was in remission with her cancer because they would suspect a spread to her lungs. My question is (apologies for the wordiness) can breast cancer spread to another part of the body and out of the breasts themselves? Wouldn't her mammograms have been coming back positive if the cancer had spread to other parts of the body? Thanks so much. Gina.

goldie0827

Breast cancer can spread to many parts of the body. Typically to the bones, brain, liver and lungs. That being said, lets say it went to her lungs. It would not be lung cancer, but breast cancer that spread to her lungs.

FineGina

Hi! My apologies, I was not clear. What I meant was, if the cancer had spread, wouldn't it still be in her breasts though? Like would she keep getting back negative breast scans? Thanks!

Beaverntx

FineGina, her mammograms could well be clear so that is no absolute reassurance. Hope she has those pulmonary tests as soon as possible, if for no other reason than to have information about what is going on.

Spookiesmom

I had bmx 7 years ago. Both are gone. I had reoccurrence in my armpit on the non cancer side this year. It’s still considered breast cancer. I have scans twice a year to make sure it’s not spread someplace else. If I did light up somewhere there would be tests to see if it is breast cancer or a new primary. That makes a difference for treatment. I am currently on an oral chemo pill

JoE777

I have metastatic breast cancer to the lower back and both lungs. My breast are clear. I don't even have mammograms anymore because I have pet/Ct scans every 4-6 months now that my disease is inactive after treatments, kisqali and letrozole

djmammo

FineGina

"Can breast cancer spread to another part of the body and out of the breasts themselves?"

Yes. That is the definition of metastatic breast cancer.

"Wouldn't her mammograms have been coming back positive if the cancer had spread to other parts of the body?"

No. If it had already exited the breast prior to her definitive surgery, either by blood or lymphatics, it would show up elsewhere in the body and not show up in that breast so a normal mammogram does not exclude metastatic disease. If the mammogram shows a cancer at this point in time, it would more likely be a second primary.

"Anyway, she has been having a lot of trouble breathing recently and she's going in for pulmonary tests next month"

Shortness of breath secondary to metastatic breast cancer is usually from pleural effusions (fluid around the lungs) and this should be visible on a routine chest x-ray. CT would be better for detecting nodules in the lungs themselves. The fact that she has COPD makes it more likely that the SOB is from that. Let us know what those tests show.

goldie0827

Great reply DJ. I hope that answers her questions.

FineGina

Hi everyone, thank you so much for all the information. This helps a lot.