At the Weill Cornell Medicine Breast Center, we are passionate about providing expert, compassionate care for patients with advanced stage breast cancers.
Advanced breast cancer is also called metastatic breast cancer or stage IV breast cancer. This type of breast cancer has metastasized (spread) beyond the breast tissue to other parts of the body. While metastatic breast cancer cannot be cured, it can be treated and managed to live longer with improved quality of life and well-being. Here, you'll find compassionate, expert care to help you live well.
Exceptional Advanced Breast Cancer Specialists
Metastatic breast cancers are best treated and managed by a multidisciplinary team of specialists. At the Weill Cornell Medicine Breast Center, our team collaborates closely to understand your individual cancer and help you decide the best treatment options for you. You may choose for your treatment to slow the cancer spread, relieve symptoms and improve your quality of life.
Our team includes surgical oncologists, medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, plastic surgeons, radiologists, pathologists, geneticists, dieticians, nurses and nurse navigators, social workers and experts in precision medicine. Together, they provide comprehensive care that focuses on managing cancer and optimizing quality of life.
As our patient, you will have access to leading research, including clinical trials that will potentially improve care and outcomes for you and others with advanced breast cancers.
Leading Imaging Technology and Specialists
At the Weill Cornell Medicine Breast Center, we work closely with leading radiologists (imaging experts), who use the most advanced technology available to determine exactly where the cancer has spread.
Our specialized radiologists image and understand each patient's cancer state. This is highly important for our care team to develop the best possible treatment plan. Our radiologists provide specialized imaging services to evaluate the size and location of the cancer, including:
- Bone scans to determine if cancer has spread to inside the bones
- Computed tomography (CT) scan to determine where cancer is present inside specific organs and soft tissues
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to image specific areas of the body in more detail
- PET scans evaluate the bones, organs and soft tissues
Personalized Treatment and Management for Advanced Breast Cancer
There are many options for treating and managing advanced breast cancer. You and your care team will discuss your options and determine the best plan to help you achieve your specific health goals.
Your personalized treatment plan may focus more on shrinking tumors to slow cancer growth or relieving side effects to improve your quality of life.
Your treatment plan may include:
- Chemotherapy
- Hormone (endocrine) therapy
- Immunotherapy and other targeted agents
- Radiation therapy
- Surgical intervention
Managing side effects for comfort and greater quality of life: Beyond treating advanced breast cancer, our team will also focus on helping you feel as comfortable as possible. This includes identifying and managing any side effects of the cancer and cancer treatments.
The Weill Cornell Medicine Breast Center complementary care services offer a wide range of options and resources to help you feel your best and live well.