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Breast Cancer,Metastatic or Recurrent - Symptoms
The symptoms of metastatic and recurrent breast cancer depend on how much the cancer has spread. You may have specific physical symptoms, such as a lump in your breast or on your chest wall, bone pain, or shortness of breath. Many women do not have symptoms. Recurrent or metastatic breast cancer is often found before symptoms appear, either on a chest X-ray or as part of another test.
Recurrent breast cancer
If you have cancer that recurs in the same area (local recurrence ), you may have symptoms such as:
- A lump or thickening in the breast, chest
wall, or armpit after you have had
breast-conserving surgery
or a
mastectomy. You may notice that the skin of your chest
looks or feels different. - A change in the size or shape of the breast or a dimple or pucker in the skin of the breast.
- Discharge or bleeding from the nipple that occurs without squeezing the nipple (spontaneous discharge).
- A change in the nipple, such as a scaly or crusty look or a nipple that draws inward (retraction or inversion).
Metastatic breast cancer
Symptoms of metastatic breast cancer will depend on the area affected and how far your breast cancer has spread.
| Area affected | Symptom |
|---|---|
|
Breast or chest wall |
|
|
Bones, especially the back, hips, or sternum |
|
|
Lungs |
|
|
Liver |
|
|
Brain and spinal cord |
|
Inflammatory breast cancer
Inflammatory breast cancer is a specific type of breast cancer that involves the skin of the
breast. It occurs when breast cancer cells form "nests" and block the lymphatic
drainage from the skin of the breast. Symptoms include redness, tenderness, and
warmth. Thickening of the skin of the breast (orange peel appearance), rapid
breast enlargement, and ridging of the skin of the breast may also occur. Some
women may also develop itching, bruising, or a lump in the breast. See a
picture of inflammatory breast cancer.
WebMD Medical Reference from Healthwise
Breast Cancer,Metastatic or Recurrent Topics
VIVELLE-DOT (estradiol transdermal system) IS AVAILABLE BY PRESCRPTION ONLY.
INDICATION
Vivelle-Dot is used after menopause to: reduce moderate to severe hot flashes; treat moderate to severe dryness, itching and burning in or around the vagina; help reduce your chances of getting osteoporosis (thin weak bones); and treat certain conditions in which a young woman's ovaries do not produce enough estrogens naturally. Vivelle-Dot 0.025 mg/day is only used to prevent osteoporosis from menopause. If you use Vivelle-Dot only to treat your dryness, itching, and burning in and around your vagina or if you use Vivelle-Dot only to prevent osteoporosis from menopause, talk with your healthcare professional about whether a different treatment or medicine without estrogens might be better for you.
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
Estrogens increase the chances of getting cancer of the uterus (womb). Report any unusual vaginal bleeding right away while you are taking estrogens. Vaginal bleeding after menopause may be a warning sign of cancer of the uterus (womb).
Do not use estrogens with or without progestins to prevent heart disease, heart attacks, or strokes. Using estrogens with or without progestins may increase your chances of getting heart attacks, strokes, breast cancer, and blood clots. Using estrogens with progestins may increase your risk of dementia (decline in memory and thinking skills).
Vivelle-Dot should not be used if you have unusual vaginal bleeding; currently have or have had certain cancers, including cancer of the breast or uterus; had a stroke or heart attack in the recent past (for example, in the past year); currently have or have had blood clots; currently have or have had liver problems; or think you may be, or know that you are, pregnant.
The most common side effects that may occur with Vivelle-Dot are headache, breast tenderness, and back pain.
You and your healthcare professional should talk regularly about whether you still need treatment with Vivelle-Dot.
You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.
Please see Full Prescribing Information for Vivelle-Dot.
October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and a new study reveals why a high number of women with the disease still prefer to have the entire breast surgically removed instead of just the tumor. It's not always because doctors recommend it.
