Treatment for stage 4 breast cancer
Typically, treatment for breast cancer in stage 4 involves a combination of chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and (if appropriate) hormone therapy.
Targeted therapy is a treatment that targets the protein that allows the growth of cancer cells and this type of therapy can also be an option for people with breast cancer in stage 4. Occasionally, surgeons will try to remove tumors, although surgical removal is not normally the first treatment option.
Doctors, however, may suggest surgery to help relieve pain by treating some of the problems that may arise as a result of stage 4 breast cancer. These include compression of the spinal cord, repair of any fractured bones, and removal of single masses caused by metastasis.
A physician may also prescribe medication to treat symptoms. These may include antidepressants to help mood, local anesthetics to manage pain, and anticonvulsants to manage neurological conditions. New therapies are emerging all the time, and anyone with breast cancer at any stage can volunteer to try out these. People who are considering this should talk to their doctor about the availability of any trials.
Trials are currently underway for a new treatment, called immunotherapy. Immunotherapy works by increasing the natural ability of the body to fight cancer, and has less side effects than chemotherapy and radiotherapy. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not yet approved this new therapy, but anyone wishing to present themselves for these trials should discuss with their doctor their options and suitability.