Secondary breast cancer
You might also hear secondary breast cancer called:
metastatic breast cancer
advanced breast cancer
stage 4 breast cancer
These terms all mean the same thing - that your cancer has spread from the breast to other parts of your body.
Find out more about stage 4 breast cancer
The place where a cancer starts in the body is called the primary cancer. So cancer that starts in the breast is called primary breast cancer.
When the cancer cells spread to another part of the body, this is called a secondary cancer or a metastasis. So when breast cancer has spread, it is called secondary breast cancer.
The secondary cancer is the same type of cancer as the primary cancer. So breast cancer cells that spread to the bone are still breast cancer cells. And you have breast cancer treatments.
Locally advanced breast cancer is different from secondary breast cancer.
Locally advanced breast cancer means the cancer has spread into the surrounding area, such as the , the skin or the chest muscle. But it has not spread to other distant parts of the body such as the bones.
Breast cancer can spread anywhere. But most commonly it spreads to the:
bones
liver
lungs
brain
Your doctor will arrange some scans and tests if you have symptoms that could be due to secondary breast cancer. They will also examine you and find out how you are feeling.
Find out about symptoms of secondary breast cancer
You have tests to diagnose secondary breast cancer. These are similar to the tests to diagnose early breast cancer, so you might have had some of them before.
The tests you might have include:
mammogram
breast ultrasound scan
taking a sample of tissue from your cancer called a biopsy
scans such as , , and a
Your doctor might repeat tests on the cancer cells if your cancer has come back. They check for and because these can sometimes change when the cancer comes back.
A liquid biopsy is a blood test that looks for tiny pieces of breast cancer in the blood. Cancers often release pieces of DNA into the bloodstream. This is also called circulating tumour DNA (ctDNA).
You may have this test if you have secondary breast cancer and your cancer has not responded to previous treatment.
This test helps your doctor to:
understand more about the changes (mutations) of your cancer
decide on the best treatment for your cancer
start your sooner
Most people still need a tissue biopsy after this test. This is when the doctor takes a sample of the cancer to look at under the microscope.
Sometimes it’s not possible to use a tissue biopsy. This can be when:
your doctor can’t take a sample because of where the cancer is
you are too ill
the sample isn’t suitable for testing
In these situations, the results from the liquid biopsy are enough to make decisions about your treatment and for you to start treatment.
A liquid biopsy is approved as a test for advanced breast cancer in England.
Find out about tests for breast cancer
Unfortunately, treatment can not cure secondary breast cancer. The aim of treatment is to:
control and slow down your cancer
relieve symptoms and maintain your
Treatment for secondary breast cancer depends on a number of factors. These include what treatment you already had and where the cancer is in your body.
Common treatments for secondary breast cancer include chemotherapy, hormone therapy and targeted cancer drugs. You usually have a combination of these.
Find out more about treatments for secondary breast cancer
When breast cancer is advanced it can't be cured. But treatment can control it for some time and help to relieve symptoms.
Finding out that you can’t be cured is distressing and can be a shock. It’s common to feel uncertain and anxious. It's normal to not be able to think about anything else.
Lots of information and support are available to you, your family, and friends. It can help to find out more about your cancer and the treatments you might have. Many people find that knowing more about their situation can make it easier to cope.
Talk to your doctor or nurse to understand:
what your diagnosis means
what is likely to happen
what treatment is available
how treatment can help you
You and your family will be looked after by a team of people who can provide you with support and information.
Read more about coping and support when you have secondary breast cancer
Many people want to know what the outlook is and how their cancer will develop. This is different for each person and can be difficult to predict. But many people with secondary breast cancer can live for a number of years after their diagnosis.
Your cancer specialist has all the information about you and your cancer. They're the best person to discuss this with.
You can also talk to your specialist nurse.
Last reviewed: 17 Aug 2026
Next review due: 17 Aug 2029
Symptoms of secondary breast cancer depend on where the cancer has spread to. Common symptoms include pain and tiredness (fatigue).
You have a number of tests to check for breast cancer. This includes a breast examination, a mammogram, a biopsy and scans.
The aim of treatment for secondary breast cancer is to control the cancer, relieve the symptoms and maintain your quality of life. Treatments such as chemotherapy or radiotherapy can help to reduce symptoms and might make you feel better.
Survival is generally very good for breast cancer, particularly if you are diagnosed early. This is probably because of screening, early diagnosis and improved treatment.
There is support to help you cope with the emotional, practical and physical issues you might have when you have secondary breast cancer. Find out more.
Breast cancer is cancer that starts in the breast tissue. It’s the most common cancer in the UK. It mainly affects women, but men can get it too.
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