What are the symptoms of metastatic breast cancer?
When symptoms of metastatic breast cancer occur, the type and frequency of the symptoms will depend on the size and location of the metastasis. For example, breast cancer that spreads to the bones is likely to cause pain and can lead to bone fractures. Breast cancer that spreads to the brain can cause a variety of symptoms, including headaches, seizures, and unsteadiness. Shortness of breath may be a sign of lung involvement. Abdominal swelling or jaundice (yellowing of the skin) can indicate that cancer has spread to the liver. Sometimes a person’s primary cancer is discovered only after the metastatic tumor causes symptoms.
