A breast cancer diagnosis is undoubtedly a fearful and unforgettable event for the patient and her family. The fear of the unknown and analyzing one's own demise is something every breast cancer patient thinks about. Whether it is an initial diagnosis or it is a recurrent breast cancer that is in its advanced stages, there are some signs to look for.
Recurrence in Lymph Nodes
Most oncologists perform a biopsy or a CA-125 test at least every six months as a preventative measure to assure that the breast cancer has not spread or progressed to the lymph nodes. If the patient hasn't recently completed the test but feels a new lump in the breast, armpit or groin area, she should see her doctor about having a biopsy performed to see if the cancer has progressed.
Recurrence in Distant Location
Another sign of breast cancer may be the spread of the cancer to a nearby or distant organ. This could include the bones, brain, lungs, liver or kidneys. When this happens, it is generally referred to as metastases. This means that the cancer is growing faster than what the treatment can to do to kill the cancer cells.
Most breast cancers start off as ductal carcinoma in situ---meaning it is in the ducts of the breast. Sometimes they spread rapidly and are not always caught in the initial diagnosis or biopsy. The cells begin to multiply and take over vital organs. At this point it is very difficult to treat the cancer because the organs are being destroyed by cancer cells and are not working to their full potential.
Chemotherapy and radiation therapy could actually destroy the organ rather than kill the cancer cells. This is where your oncologist will decide what measures to take so you will be comfortable as the disease runs its course.
Tumor Enlargement
A sign of the progression of breast cancer could be tumor enlargement. If the primary tumor wasn't removed initially because it was small or only contained a few cancer cells, it may not respond to treatment. Another case could be that the primary tumor was removed, but when a new CT scan or MRI scan is preformed, a new tumor has either grown in its place or multiplied into several tumors. At this point the patient needs to decide if she wants to continue on with medicinal treatment that may negatively affect her quality of life or preserve what time she may have being pain-free.
Failure to Respond to Treatment
In many cases, progressive breast cancer with metastases fails to respond properly to treatment, which is a bad sign. If the disease has progressed out of control and there is no other alternative for modern medicinal treatment, palliative care will likely be established. This could still mean radiation therapy to shrink large tumors to make the patient comfortable during her last months of life.
End-of-Life Symptoms
When breast cancer has returned or progressed and does not respond to any treatment, the cancer is considered to be in its final stages, or stage IV. This means that the cancer is not responding to treatment and will eventually spread even further and take over the body. Signs and symptoms to look for include increased pain in the bones and muscle areas of the body, increased weakness, stroke-like symptoms, fever over 103 degrees, rapid or faint pulse, low respiratory rate, raspy breathing or rattling in chest, terminal restlessness and lack of fluid and food intake.
