The progress of your breast cancer treatment and underlying condition may change over time. If this happens, talk with your doctor about other treatments, clinical trials, palliative care, and hospice care.
There are several treatment options for advanced breast cancer.
Treatment at this stage can slow the growth of cancer and improve your symptoms as well as prolong your life.
Sometimes treatments that previously worked well no longer do, and cancer continues to progress. It’s helpful to know what to do if this happens.
A cancer treatment that has worked well in the past can
Your doctor will perform routine testing and exams to monitor the progress of your treatment. This can help your healthcare team determine whether the treatment you’re receiving is effective.
For example, blood tests can check:
- organ function
- blood counts
- tumor markers
If you’re receiving chemotherapy, your doctor will check your blood cell counts before each round of treatment.
If blood test results raise concerns, your doctor can order other tests to see if the cancer has spread. These tests include:
- CT scan: CT scans can identify whether cancer has spread to your lungs, brain, or liver.
- X-ray: X-rays can find new cancer in the bones, abdomen, or chest.
- Bone scan: Bone scans can check all bones for new cancer.
- PET scan: PET scans can detect cancer in lymph nodes.
- Bronchoscopy: Bronchoscopy involves a doctor using a scope with a camera to examine the inside of your lungs.
- Biopsy: During a biopsy, a clinician removes a small tissue sample for viewing with a microscope.
If your test results show that your treatment plan isn’t working, you and your doctor can discuss the next steps.
If your current treatment is no longer effective, your doctor can help you decide what to do next. This might mean trying another treatment or taking part in a clinical trial.
It helps to have a list of questions for your doctor covering topics such as:
- all your treatment options
- your outlook
- side effects of other treatments
- clinical trials you could take part in
- the value of palliative or hospice care
- how to know when to stop treatment
Some people choose to avoid cancer treatment side effects and transition to hospice care instead.
Even if you’re wondering what more there is to be done, it’s a good idea to discuss things with your doctor. Cancer treatment is continually evolving and improving.
For example, a
- those under 65 years old for all stages of cancer
- those 65 to 75 years old with advanced breast cancer
Researchers believe these improvements are due to an increase in systemic treatments. Systemic treatments travel throughout the whole body to treat where cancer is located. Examples include:
- chemotherapy
- hormonal therapy
- immunotherapy
- targeted drugs
Even so, the emotional impact of discussing new treatments can be stressful. It helps to have supportive people in your life to help you through the times when you may feel overwhelmed.
A clinical trial is research involving volunteers who meet certain eligibility requirements. Clinical trials have benefits and risks. Your doctor can review these with you and how they apply to your specific situation.
Ask your doctor for more information or visit ClinicalTrials.gov.
Potential benefits of joining a clinical trial
- You have access to new treatment.
- You play a more active role in your own care.
- The trial may provide you with more medical care.
- You may require more frequent checkups, which results in more information about your condition.
- You’re contributing to the evolution of medical knowledge and helping others in the process.
- Participation may result in increased information about resources and support groups.
Possible risks of joining a clinical trial
- The new treatment may cause side effects.
- The new treatment may not work.
- You might be in the control group and receive a placebo instead of treatment.
- The scheduling, location, or other participation requirements might be inconvenient.
The word “palliative” means to manage the symptoms that come with an illness rather than the cause.
Palliative care for cancer is aimed at managing cancer symptoms and treatment side effects. You can have palliative care at any time during your cancer journey, whether right after diagnosis or all the way through treatment.
People who have stopped treatment can transition to end-of-life support called hospice care.
Anyone experiencing symptoms of any illness can have palliative care. Palliative care helps in areas such as:
- managing symptoms and treatment side effects
- receiving emotional and spiritual support
- helping with insurance, financial, and employment issues
- providing support for family and caregivers
- helping with paperwork, like advance directives
- transitioning to hospice care in the event that the disease worsens or treatment no longer works
People who receive palliative care spend less time in the hospital and have a better quality of life with fewer symptoms. According to the
It can also help to connect with other people who share your experience, such as by joining a support group.
Sometimes breast cancer treatment stops working, even when it was previously effective.
The tests your doctor uses to monitor your cancer during treatment can indicate whether it’s still working. It also helps when you communicate how you’re feeling and let your doctor know if you experience new or changed symptoms.
You may also be able to join a clinical trial. Doing so can give you access to new treatments that aren’t yet widely available while enabling you to add to the growing body of scientific knowledge.
