Monday, January 09, 2006

What is the prognosis for stage IV breast cancer that has spread to the lungs?

Metastatic breast cancer in the lungs carries a particularly poor prognosis. It can often be associated with pulmonary effusions, also referred to as "water on the lungs," which can leave people short of breath. Less than 5 percent of people with metastatic breast cancer — whether to the bones, lungs, liver, brain or elsewhere — live for more than five to 10 years after diagnosis, and most of those people who do survive long-term have metastasis limited to the bones.

However, given that we cannot predict who those 5 percent will be, it's very reasonable to treat breast cancer that has metastasized to the lungs with systemic therapy (anti-estrogen or chemotherapy). Even if an individual doesn't survive long-term, reduction in tumor volumes can lead to substantial improvement in symptoms and quality of life.