Adapted from Breast Cancer Now 17.3.25
Breast Cancer Now, a research and support charity for breast cancer, sent a very helpful educational leaflet to all UK General Practitioners via Pulse, the GP magazine. Mainly, this is to act as a reminder to them, to investigate and refer women who could be presenting with breast cancer that has spread. Nowadays more than 4 in 5 women who are diagnosed with breast cancer survive long term. Women who present with secondary breast cancer symptoms can sometimes still be cured, but sometimes they can’t. Information about possible secondary cancer symptoms is useful for the GP, but it is even more useful for women who have had breast cancer, so I’m sharing it with you today.
Secondary breast cancer occurs when breast cancer cells spread from the first cancer to other parts of the body. This is via the lymphatic or blood system. General symptoms can be tiredness, nausea, loss of appetite and weight loss. These can be caused by many other conditions such as infections, medications, immunological disorders and other illnesses, but if you have previously had breast cancer it is worth getting a diagnosis sooner rather than later.
Signs that cancer may have spread to the bones include: bone pain that doesn’t respond to simple pain killers and may be worse lying down or at night. Fractures with or without prior trauma. Unexplained back pain, difficulty walking, numbness or lack of bladder or bowel control. Feeling sick or being sick, fatigue, passing a lot of urine, confusion, and being thirsty. These may be due to a high level of calcium in the blood.
Signs that cancer may have spread to the lungs include: feeling out of breath on activity that you usually can do easily, or breathlessness at rest. A cough that doesn’t go away after three weeks. Pain or tightness in the chest that doesn’t go away with rest.
Signs that cancer may have spread to the liver include: pain in the abdomen or the right shoulder. Pain under the ribs on the right side. Nausea, loss of appetite and weight loss. Persistent hiccups, swelling of the abdomen, feeling unwell or tired. Itching of the skin or yellow discolouration of the skin or whites of eyes.
Signs that cancer may have spread to the brain include: persistent headache, nausea and vomiting especially in the mornings. Weakness or numbness down one side of the body. Dizziness, unsteadiness, loss of balance or co-ordination. Fits. Difficulty with speech. Problems with vision. Changes in behaviour, mood or personality. Confusion. Memory problems.
Signs that cancer has spread to the skin include: a change in colour of the skin. A persistent rash. A firm, painless lump or nodules or multiple lumps of different sizes. Swelling of the arm, hand or breast area. Pain. Bleeding. Infection. Smell.
Signs that cancer has spread to the lymph nodes include: a lump or swelling under your arm, breast bone or collar bone. Swelling in your arm or hand. Pain. Dry cough.
Signs that cancer has spread to the abdomen include: abdominal pain, swollen belly, feeling sick all the time, loss of appetite, feeling full quickly when eating, constipation, feeling bloated.
If you have NEW symptoms, that DON’T HAVE AN OBVIOUS CAUSE, or DON’T GO AWAY, you must report these to a doctor. If you first see or speak to a nurse or physician assistant it is worth asking for a doctor appointment.
The charity Breast Cancer Now has a phone line where you can discuss your worries: 0808 800 6000. They have dedicated nurses and can tailor information and support to you, not just at the point that you are worried about symptoms but if you are then diagnosed with secondary breast cancer.
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