Everyone develops aches and pains. It will be hard for you
not to worry if you do experience pain or other symptoms.
In most cases these will not mean the cancer has returned.
The table below summarises the possible symptoms, the likely
cause and the preferred treatment to alleviate the symptoms.
The most common sites for spread are the skin, bone, liver
and lungs. Note you should refer to the Guide
for women with metastatic breast cancer for more comprehensive
information on treatments. Further you should refer to a specialist
for advice on your particular circumstances. The notes below
are for information only.
| Symptom(s) |
Likely cause |
Treatment |
| Pain in the back or pelvis |
Spread to the bone |
Radiotherapy |
| Excessive thirst, frequent
urination, nausea and drowsiness |
Increased calcium in the
blood from spread to the bone |
Biophosphonates |
| Shortness of breath, coughing,,
wheezing and fluid on the lungs |
Spread to the lungs |
Draining of fluid with
treatment to prevent the fluid accumulating again. |
| Pain and discomfort in
the upper abdomen. Indigestion, loss of appetite and nausea |
Liver secondaries |
Chemotherapy and other
tablets and medications |
| Headaches, sickness and
nausea. Progressing to weakness in arms or legs and/or
loss of coordination |
Spread to the brain |
Radiotherapy
Course of steroids
|
| Skin breakouts and deposits |
Spread to skin. These
can break down and become infected but are not usually
painful. |
Creams and dressings will
help heal these and fight infection |
| Numbness in the legs,
difficulties with bowel or bladder |
Tumour in the back presses
against the spinal cord. This should be investigated immediately.
|
Surgery and/or radiotherapy |
