DETAILED DISCUSSION ON METASTATIC BREAST CANCER

DETAILED DISCUS SION ON METASTATIC BREAST CANCER

What is metastatic breast cancer?

Commonly referred to as Stage 4 breast cancer, metastatic breast cancer is the term that defines the phase when cancer has spread to other parts of the body such as lungs, liver, bones, and brain. It can happen in various ways- for instance, when the healthy cells are invaded by the cancer cells, it may lead to abnormal growth and division. They can also travel through the walls of the lymph system and spread to the blood vessels. Several new tumors can grow at new locations.

Causes and Symptoms of Metastatic Breast Cancer Breast cancer occurs when the breast cells in the milk-producing ducts begin to multiply abnormally. However, that would be merely describing the condition.

Researchers have not been able to detect the exact cause of breast cancer, but there are some aspects that may contribute to the risk factors, such as hormonal, lifestyle, and environmental.

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Most cases show that 5-10% of breast cancer cases are hereditary.

The increase in age can expose you to the risk of developing this condition.

Inherited gene mutations, such as BRCA1 and BRCA2, can increase the chances of getting breast cancer.

Radiation exposure can also contribute to this disease.

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Obesity is one of the essential factors behind breast cancer.

Symptoms 1.

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Lump on the breast that differs from the surrounding tissue.

A gradual change in the shape, size, or appearance of the breast.

Abnormal skin condition over the breast Peeling and scaling of the pigmented skin surrounding the areolas

Treatment Procedures for Metastatic Breast Cancer These are the most preferred treatment options for metastatic breast cancer: 1. Hormone Therapy- Also known as endocrine therapy, this form of treatment prevents breast cancer cell receptors from attaching to the hormones like estrogen and progesterone that stimulate them to grow.

Note that this therapy is only useful for women with hormone-receptorpositive tumors.

2. Chemotherapy- With the use of anti-cancer drugs that are either given orally or intravenously, chemotherapy helps destroy cancer cells in most parts of the body. It is prescribed for women after surgery and prior to surgery.

3. Targeted Therapy- This form of therapy uses specially developed drugs or inhibitors that travel through the bloodstream to target the cancer cells with abnormal amounts of proteins on their surface.

4. Radiation Therapy- With the help of high-energy rays or particles, the cancer cells are aimed to destroyed within the body. It is useful before or after surgery to shrink the size of the tumor or eliminate the remaining cancer cells, respectively.

5. Immunotherapy- Here, medications are prescribed to boost the immune system so that they can recognize and attack the cancer cells.

Important Medications •

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Palbociclib- Patients with HR+ or HER2- the type of breast cancer is prescribed Palbociclib 125 mg in combination with endocrine therapy. It can block the action of estrogen on the cancer cells, which slows down the growth. It has been classified as a CDK 4/6 targeted therapy inhibitor.

Capecitabine- It is a chemotherapy drug that is consumed orally that interferes with the procedure of cancer cell growth. Capecitabine. The maximum and minimum dosages are Capecitabine 500 mg and 150mg, respectively. It is usually prescribed in a 21-days cycle that includes 7 days break after 2 weeks of continuation.

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Trastuzumab- Women who are diagnosed with HER2 positive breast cancer in both early and advanced stages are prescribed Trastuzumab 440 mg. This targeted therapy drug is given in combination with other chemotherapy drugs or alone. It stimulates the body’s immune system to fight the cancer cells.

Ribociclib- It is prescribed in combination with an aromatase inhibitor for the treatment of metastatic hormone-receptor-positive, HER2-negative type breast cancer. Ribociclib 200 mg is classified as a CDK 4/6 inhibitor that interferes with the kinase to stop or slow down the growth of cancer cells.

Everolimus- It is an mTOR inhibitor that is used to treat HER2 negative type hormone-receptor-positive metastatic breast cancer. Everolimus tablets are taken orally. It blocks the aromatase enzyme that produces less estrogen to stimulate the growth of cancer cells.

Lapatinib- Lapatinib 250 mg is used to conduct targeted drug therapy for treating secondary breast cancer. It has been classified as a tyrosine kinase inhibitor that is helpful for women with HER2 positive type of breast cancer.

Conclusion The efficacy of treatment or drugs depends a great deal on the expansion of cancer. In most cases, more than one treatment is preferred for the body to respond. There’s also a chance of relapse. If you have a family history of breast cancer, regular doctor checkups are mandatory.

Source:- http://ikrispharma.over-blog.com/metastatic-breastcancer.html