Metastases in the brain

Brain metastases from breast cancer can worsen the prognosis and reduce the chances of cure. However, they do not occur very frequently. The brain is not routinely examined during so-called “staging” and in the search for metastases.

Only when certain symptoms of a known breast cancer disease lead to the suspicion of brain involvement does an MRI examination have to be carried out, which can reveal small changes. The symptoms depend on the brain region and the exact location of the metastases. According to this, hearing, balance, vision and olfactory disorders, but also fainting, seizures, changes in consciousness and character can occur.

The brain can also swell due to water retention and cause symptoms of brain edema. Therapeutically, surgery, chemotherapy and radiation are also possible. However, these involve an increased risk of damage to important areas of the brain. The chance of a cure for breast cancer with brain metastases is therefore significantly reduced. Further information about brain metastases can be found here.

Lung metastases from breast cancer

The lung is also a comparatively frequently affected organ in breast cancer. Since the lungs are not sensitive to pain, lung metastases remain undetected for a long time. Lung metastases should not be confused with lung cancer.

This applies to all forms of metastases. If the original tumour originates from another organ, in this case the breast, the cancer cells are different, which has a direct influence on therapy and prognosis. In the standard diagnosis of breast cancer, the lungs are also examined.

Here, the radiological image often shows the metastases. As the disease progresses, typical symptoms such as a bloody cough, shortness of breath and reduced resilience can occur. Although the prognosis is reduced in the presence of pulmonary metastases, surgical removal of the metastases can still be attempted.

Metastases at the costal pleura

The pleura is the outer skin located between the ribs and the lungs. Between the pleura and the lungs there is a fluid that allows the lungs to expand with little friction. Malignant cells can enter this gap as a result of cancer and cause metastases at several points on the pleura.

This is known as “pleural carcinosis”. The prognosis and the chances of recovery deteriorate enormously when the pleura is affected. Therapeutically, however, there are many possibilities to reduce the symptoms and enable pain-free breathing.

A partial removal of the pleura is also possible. If metastases are found in breast cancer, 75% of them are located in the bones. Bone metastases are therefore by far the most common form of distant metastases in breast cancer.

In healthy people, the bones are constantly being remodeled and this balance between the build-up and breakdown of bone tissue is upset by tumor metastases. This leads to a disturbance of the mineral balance with sometimes severe pain and also to an increased risk of bone fracture. Fortunately, however, various measures are now available to successfully treat bone metastases.

In the first instance, the main focus is on targeted pain therapy, since pain is the factor that most impairs the quality of life of those affected. In addition, the bone can be stabilized with the help of certain drugs. These include bisphosphonates, which ensure that calcium is broken down from the bone to a lesser extent, thereby restoring its stability. The patient should also take vitamin D and calcium to ensure the success of the therapy.