Q&A: METASTATIC BREAST CANCER

Listen to our online Q&A event, moderated by Author and Journalist Annabel Crabb, on Metastatic Breast Cancer.

Metastatic breast cancer, also known as advanced, secondary, or stage four breast cancer, is a breast cancer which has spread to other parts of the body such as the bones, liver, or lungs. Many people who are diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer have been diagnosed with breast cancer before. However, for some it may be the first diagnosis of breast cancer.

Metastatic breast cancer occurs when cancer cells break away from the cancer in the breast and move through the blood vessels or lymphatic vessels and form a new cancer growth in other parts of the body.

If breast cancer has spread and metastasised, it is still considered breast cancer and will be treated as such. This is because the cells which have spread are breast cancer cells. For example, if breast cancer has spread to the liver, the metastatic tumour in the liver is made up of breast cancer cells, not liver cells.

The experience of being diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer can affect people in different ways and this may include managing different symptoms of this disease and treatments, living with metastatic breast cancer, and how patients and their families cope with an uncertain future.

In this Q&A event, moderated by TV presenter Annabel Crabb, we discussed the latest in research for metastatic breast cancer with leading experts, as well as the psychological impacts of this disease and participating in clinical trials.

Meet the Panel

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Ms Annabel Crabb

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Associate Professor Lisa Beatty

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Professor Sarah-Jane Dawson

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Dr Shom Goel

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