Staging

Metastatic breast cancer refers to the most advanced stage (IV) of breast cancer. In this stage, the cancer has spread to other parts of the body, most often the bones, lungs, liver, or brain. Surgery and radiation are not as useful in stage IV. Hormone therapy, chemotherapy, targeted therapies, or some combination of these treatments may be used to shrink tumors, improve symptoms, and help patients live longer. However, stage IV disease is usually not curable. If you have stage IV disease, it is critical to find out whether you qualify for clinical trials, which provide different treatment opportunities.