Where does triple negative breast cancer usually spread to?
The cancer can be any size and may or may not have spread to nearby lymph nodes. It has spread to distant organs or to lymph nodes far from the breast. The most common sites of spread are the bone, liver, brain or lung.
What is the prognosis When breast cancer spreads to the brain?
Prognosis. Development of brain metastases in breast cancer has a poor overall prognosis, with a median survival between 2 and 27 months without treatment. [3,40] In addition, they are often associated with neurocognitive deficits, functional decline, and impaired quality of life.
What are the symptoms of breast cancer spread to brain?
If breast cancer metastasizes to the brain, it can cause a variety of symptoms to develop, including:
- Headaches.
- Memory loss.
- Changes in mood, personality or behavior.
- Impaired judgment.
- Dizziness.
- Balance problems.
- Weakness or paralysis in one side of the body (hemiparesis)
- Numbness or tingling within the extremities.
How long can you live when cancer spreads to the brain?
But for those who develop brain metastases, the already grim outlook is even worse. They will survive, on average, for less than six months. When lung cancer reaches the brain it can cause headaches, seizures and paralysis.
What is the life expectancy for triple-negative breast cancer?
In general, about91% of all women with triple-negative breast cancer are still alive 5 years after diagnosis. If the cancer has spread to the lymph nodes near the breast (regional) the 5 year relative survival rate is about 65%. If the cancer has spread to distant places, the 5 year relative survival rate is 11%.
Is triple-negative breast cancer the worst kind?
Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is considered an aggressive cancer because it grows quickly, is more likely to have spread at the time it’s found and is more likely to come back after treatment than other types of breast cancer. The outlook is generally not as good as it is for other types of breast cancer.
What type of breast cancer is most likely to metastasize to the brain?
Type of cancer
Triple-negative and HER2-positive breast cancers are more likely to metastasize to the brain.
How long do you live with brain metastases?
On average, patients diagnosed with brain metastases treated with steroid therapy alone survive one to two months [2]. The eradication of tumor cells in the brain undergoing rapid mitosis with WBRT can extend the average survival of select patient from four to seven months [2].
What are the final stages of metastatic brain cancer?
These symptoms include drowsiness, headaches, cognitive and personality changes, poor communication, seizures, delirium (confusion and difficulty thinking), focal neurological symptoms, and dysphagia. Some patients may have several of these symptoms, while others may have none.