Lung Cancer and Coughing Up Blood: When to See a Doctor
Living With Stage 4 Breast Cancer: What To Know About Survival
Facing stage 4 breast cancer can be challenging because it's the most serious and life threatening stage of breast cancer. However, treatment and lifestyle changes can help improve outcomes.
Stage 4 breast cancer is also called metastatic breast cancer or advanced breast cancer. At this stage, cancer that developed in your breast has spread to other areas of your body. Cancer cells might have traveled through your lymphatic system to your lungs, bones, liver, brain, or other organs.
Most often, stage 4 breast cancer develops long after you first receive a cancer diagnosis. But in rare cases, the cancer may already have progressed to stage 4 by the time of diagnosis.
Read on to learn about the outlook for stage 4 breast cancer and what may be done to improve outcomes.
Breast cancer is categorized into five stages from 0 to 4. Stage 4 is the most advanced. Using another staging system, it can also be referred to as distant breast cancer, which means the cancer has spread from its original location.
According to the National Cancer Institute, an estimated 31.9% of people who receive a diagnosis of distant-stage breast cancer live for at least 5 years after diagnosis. This percentage is lower than those in earlier stages because survival rates depend on the extent and location of metastasis (spread).
Is stage 4 breast cancer considered terminal?Stage 4 breast cancer is not curable and can be terminal. However, various factors and advancements in treatment can improve your outlook.
Can stage 4 breast cancer go into remission?As a result of developments in treatment, it's possible for stage 4 breast cancer to go into remission. This means the cancer will not be detected on tests. But in most cases, the cancer has a high risk of recurring later on.
Is long-term survival possible?While it's rare, there have been cases of people who survived for more than 10 years after a diagnosis of stage 4 breast cancer.
According to a 2016 study, about 13% of women who receive a diagnosis of primary stage 4 breast cancer live for 10 years after their diagnosis. "Primary" refers to someone's first cancer diagnosis. This means that this statistic does not apply to recurrences.
A 2019 study also found that 13% of people who received a diagnosis of the human epidermal growth receptor 2 (HER2)-positive subtype of stage 4 breast cancer reached and maintained remission by 10 years after diagnosis.
The 2016 study also found that women under the age of 50 years who received a stage 4 breast cancer diagnosis had a higher chance of surviving for 10 years than older women did.
Various factors can affect your longevity and quality of life with stage 4 breast cancer:
If you have stage 4 breast cancer, it's important to work with an oncologist to develop your treatment plan. This will involve medical treatment and lifestyle strategies.
Medical treatmentSince the cancer has spread to other areas of your body, systemic treatment will likely be necessary to stop tumor growth and spread.
Your specific breast cancer characteristics and medical history will determine which treatment options your oncologist recommends. Treatment may include:
DietWhen you have stage 4 breast cancer, you may experience periods of weight gain and weight loss. This can be caused by stress, a lack of energy for exercise, or a side effect of cancer treatment, such as nausea.
Although it may be hard, try to choose foods that provide enough nutrients to support your body. Consider foods such as lean meats, eggs, low fat dairy, nuts, beans, and fruits and vegetables. Keep high calorie options such as milkshakes on hand for days when you don't feel like eating. And do your best to stay hydrated.
When you do eat, opt for small, frequent meals and incorporate ginger into your diet to ward off nausea. If you experience symptoms such as diarrhea, switch to easy-to-digest foods like apples, toast, crackers, broth, and bananas. These foods can still provide you with some necessary nutrition.
When in doubt, ask your doctor about your nutritional needs. They might recommend increasing certain foods or drinks and limiting others.
ExerciseWhile more research is needed, a 2021 study suggests that getting regular exercise may be a factor in reducing breast cancer occurrence and mortality.
But it's important to talk with your doctor before starting an exercise program. If your blood counts are low or your levels of electrolytes (such as potassium and sodium) are imbalanced, most healthcare professionals won't recommend exercising because you could put yourself at risk for further harm.
Your doctor may also recommend that you avoid working out in public places because of the risk of exposure to germs.
Safety is also important, as treatments and fatigue can cause balance and numbness issues.
Ultimately, it's essential that you listen to your body and that you don't push yourself on the days when you aren't feeling up to working out.
Having stage 4 breast cancer presents unique challenges in comparison with earlier stages of the disease.
If you've already been through earlier stages of cancer, you're now gearing up for a new experience. Metastatic breast cancer can cause additional symptoms that you may not have dealt with before, as well as new or stronger side effects from treatment.
Here are a few coping strategies that can be helpful:
A diagnosis of stage 4 breast cancer, whether it's a first diagnosis or a recurrence, can bring up a range of emotions. You might feel angry or scared or even experience a numb feeling. There isn't a wrong or a right way to feel.
A diagnosis of stage 4 breast cancer can feel daunting because it's the most serious stage of the disease. But undergoing treatment and making necessary lifestyle changes can greatly improve your outlook.
Researchers are continuing to examine different treatment options for stage 4 breast cancer. You might consider participating in clinical trials to help researchers better understand breast cancer and develop potential cures.
Your healthcare team can help you assess the potential benefits and risks of experimental treatments.
Father Beats Stage 4 Brain Cancer For Second Time
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (WXII) - May is Brain Tumor Awareness Month.
According to BrainTumor.Org, the five-year survival rate for those diagnosed with glioblastoma is 6.9%.
The average length of survival is less than a year, but one patient in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, beat those odds… Twice.
At the age of 27, life changed for Brian Anderson. He said it all started with headaches, but then turned into something more serious.
"I did the MRI and when I got out, the text, it was obvious that something was wrong, found out it was Stage 4 glioblastoma," Anderson said.
The aggressive brain tumor has affected Anderson in many ways.
"I have vision loss. I lost three-quarters of vision in my left eye. I have confusion. I have short-term memory, even today," Anderson said. "It affects daily life."
Dr. Glenn Lesser, who works with Anderson on treatments and routine checkups, said his patient is a unique case.
"This is a terrible disease for most of the patients, and unfortunately, they don't have or enjoy the long-term survival that Brian has been able to have," the brain tumor specialist at Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center said.
Dr. Lesser said there are up to 24,000 new cases a year with diagnoses of this tumor across the United States.
"Glioblastoma is the most aggressive, but also the most common one we see in adults," Dr. Lesser said.
The aggressive brain tumor has affected Brian Anderson in many ways.Anderson said after being diagnosed in 2009, he wasn't expecting the cancer to return in 2020. He said having a great support system has been his healing throughout his journey.
"I have a drive to share my situation with others and help them any way I can and support them, because without the support I have in my support circle, this would be a different fight and I don't know if I would be here," Anderson said.
Anderson shared a message for everyone.
"Know your body. If anything is different, go see a doctor," the two-time cancer survivor said.
Anderson is currently cancer free.
His new goal is to go back to school so he can get his master's in social work to help other cancer patients.
Copyright 2024 CNN Newsource. All rights reserved.
With Stage 4 Cancer, Louisville Woman Choosing 'hope' By Leading 'Race To Cure Sarcoma'
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- "To always have hope no matter what comes up, you can either choose fear or hope, and I feel like hope is always the best option."
Alexis Carrico was diagnosed with stage 4 Alveolar soft part sarcoma in March 2019 at the age of 24. Three years later, she's leading an annual fundraiser, the Race to Cure Sarcoma, to support others dealing with daunting diagnoses.
A seemingly minor nuance, her right leg being a bit larger than her left, led Carrico to seeking a medical evaluation.
"It's my dominant leg," Carrico said. "I've been retired from competitive cheerleading for seven years, and I haven't worked out in a while and I do not deserve this giant thigh muscle."
A leg biopsy resulted in a cancer diagnosis, changing her life entirely.
Alexis Carrico underwent a surgery to remove an 18-centimeter tumor. (Photo courtesy of Alexis Carrico)
"When we got the news, we all got in a very tight group hug, the tightest hug I've ever felt in my life between family that I knew was going to be the family for the rest of my life," Cole Carrico, Alexis' husband, said.
"It's very common with Alveolar soft part sarcoma for it to metastasize to the brain, into the lungs," Alexis said.
Further scans revealed the cancer had spread to both of her lungs, but it didn't reach her brain.
There was one potential procedure Carrico hoped to avoid.
"I did not want to go through with an amputation at all, it was going to be a last resort option for me" Carrico said. "But it was on the table there for a moment, which was super scary."
Traditional chemotherapy wasn't an option for treatment, so Carrico went to Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston. A Sarcoma specialist there estimated she'd have between 10 to 20 years left to live.
She then went to the National Institute of Health in Bethesda, Maryland and enrolled in a trial that kept her quality of life.
"For the first two years that kept me stable the whole way through, we never saw any shrinkage and we never saw any growth, just totally stable," Carrico said. "Eventually, we sort of took matters into our own hands."
Alexis Carrico and her family at the Big Four Bridge in downtown Louisville.
Sam DrautAs Carrico has dealt with her diagnosis, she's had family and friends supporting her throughout the journey.
"The love and support we're getting from people is so instrumental," Larry Browning, Carrico's father said. "It keeps us going everyday, it makes it worthwhile, it's just so rewarding to get that kind of support."
That love and support Carrico received, she is now spreading to others with Sarcoma.
"I feel like as someone who has been touched by Sarcoma, it's sort of my responsibility to use my voice to advocate for it and call awareness to it because there is such a limited pool of us that are here to do so," Carrico said.
Although she didn't know how the cancer would respond after an operation, Carrico underwent a surgery to remove an 18-centimeter tumor, which was wrapped around the femur bone.
An 18-centimemter tumor was removed from Alexis Carrico's leg. (Photo courtesy of Alexis Carrico)
"It was actually a miracle we were able to get clear margins, so super thankful for how that played out," Carrico said.
She's cancer free in her leg, but she still receives treatment for nodules in her lungs every 21 days at Ohio State University. Her parents drive her to Columbus, picking her up at 5 a.M., which allows for her to sleep in the backseat on the journey to Ohio.
Sarcoma is a cancer of the connective tissue, making up just 1% of all adult cancer in the U.S. Each year, more than 16,000 people are diagnosed with one of the 100 types of sarcoma, according to the Sarcoma Foundation of America.
Alveolar soft part sarcoma (ASPS) comes from different types of soft tissue like muscle, fat or nerves, according to the National Cancer Institute. It's one of the rarest sarcomas, making up only 0.2% to 1% of all soft tissue sarcomas. There are only around 80 cases diagnosed each year in the U.S.
Carrico became involved with the Race to Cure Sarcoma Louisville when Katie Wintergerst, a Sellersburg woman who was diagnosed with Stage 3 Synovial Sarcoma, told her about the event that sends proceeds to the Sarcoma Foundation of America.
Fearless for Lexie team at the Race to Cure Sarcoma in 2021. (Photo courtesy of Alexis Carrico)
After speaking at the annual 5K fundraiser last year, Carrico is serving on the planning committee for the Race to Cure Sarcoma Louisville this year. She plans to walk in the race and spend time with supporters who joined her team, "Fearless for Lexie."
"I know how needed the funding, the research and the awareness really is," Carrico said. "100% of donations go directly to Sarcoma funding research, so I feel like that's the best foundation to work with."
The Race to Cure Sarcoma Louisville is scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 27 at the Big Four Bridge. There will be a 5K timed run and one-mile walk.
To register for the race or donate to the Sarcoma Foundation of America, click here.
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