What is Stage 4 cancer?

Sarah from Metastatic Mamas helps us to understand the language of cancer diagnosis. She explains the terms secondary, metastatic and stage 4 as well as touching on the terminal. 

Metastatic cancer kills 31 people a day in the UK¹, that’s one every 45 minutes².  There are an estimated 35,000 people living with secondary breast cancer in the UK. In around 5% of women, breast cancer has already spread by the time it is diagnosed²

Breast Cancer Now report the general signs and symptoms of secondary breast cancer as being  similar to those of other conditions and include.

• Feeling constantly tired
• Constant nausea (feeling sick)
• Unexplained weight loss and loss of appetite²

The more specific symptoms depend upon the area to which the cancer has spread. Common areas include bones, lungs, liver and brain²

Symptoms should be reported to a healthcare professional if they are new, don’t have a clear cause, persist or cause you concern.

1. https://metupuk.org.uk
2. https://breastcancernow.org/about-us/media/facts-statistics (accessed 12 October 2021)