Metastatic breast cancer
A stage of breast cancer in which it has spread to other parts of the body, most often the bones, lungs, brain or liver. The signs depend on where it has spread, for example bone pain, shortness of breath, headaches or yellow skin. It usually cannot be cured, but treatment can slow it down, and many people live a normal life for several years. It can be there at the first diagnosis, or appear months, years or even decades after treatment for early breast cancer.
Read more about metastatic breast cancerTrial-stage treatments and research studies you can join
Filters
- Compares two drug combinations for ESR1-mutated advanced ER-positive breast cancer
Tests lasofoxifene with abemaciclib against fulvestrant with abemaciclib in advanced breast cancer.
Albuquerque, United StatesAlso Atlanta, Baltimore, Belleville, Boston, Cleveland, Columbus, Durham, Grand Forks, …Age 18+ - Tests inavolisib with Phesgo in HER2-positive, PIK3CA-mutated advanced breast cancer
Tests inavolisib plus Phesgo as maintenance in adults with HER2-positive, PIK3CA-mutated advanced breast cancer.
Boston, United StatesAlso Burbank, Charlotte, Corona, Detroit, Duarte, El Paso, Fort Worth, Gilbert, …Age 18+ - Safety of inavolisib and fulvestrant in advanced breast cancer with diabetes
Tests the safety of inavolisib plus fulvestrant in adults with breast cancer and diabetes.
Atlanta, United StatesAlso Clovis, Germantown, Grand Island, Mineola, Morgantown, New York, Omaha, Torrance, …Age 18+ - Studies heart side effects in people with HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer
Tests carvedilol and watches heart effects in adults with spreading HER2-positive breast cancer.
Aberdeen, United StatesAlso ‘Aiea, Akron, Albuquerque, Allentown, Anaconda, Anchorage, Ann Arbor, Antioch, …Age 18+ - Tests a personalized vaccine added to immunotherapy and chemotherapy for triple negative breast cancer
Tests a personalized vaccine plus immunotherapy and chemotherapy in metastatic triple negative breast cancer.
Aurora, United StatesAlso Aventura, Baltimore, City of Saint Peters, Clemmons, Columbus, Coral Gables, Creve Coeur, Deerfield Beach, …Age 18+ - Tests two cancer drugs together in advanced NUT carcinoma, breast cancer and solid tumors
Tests ZEN003694 with abemaciclib in people aged 12 and older with advanced cancers.
Boston, United StatesAlso Houston, Los Angeles, Newport Beach, PittsburghAge 12+ - Testing a new drug with immunotherapy and chemotherapy for advanced triple-negative breast cancer
Tests ZEN-3694 with pembrolizumab and nab-paclitaxel in adults with advanced triple-negative breast cancer.
Boston, United StatesAlso Columbus, Mineola, Nashville, New YorkAge 18+ - Tests RYZ101 in advanced ER-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer
Tests RYZ101, a radiation-carrying drug, in people with advanced breast cancer.
Albuquerque, United StatesAlso Atlanta, Boston, Buffalo, Cleveland, Dallas, Detroit, Houston, Indianapolis, … - Tests MEN2312 in adults with advanced breast cancer
Tests the new drug MEN2312, alone or with elacestrant, in adults with advanced breast cancer.
Altamonte Springs, United StatesAlso Atlanta, Baltimore, Boston, Brooklyn, Chicago, Dallas, Duarte, East Brunswick, …Age 18+ - Tests Zoladex 10.8 mg ovarian suppression in premenopausal women with breast cancer
Tests Zoladex in premenopausal women with breast cancer.
Amsterdam, United StatesAlso Athens, Bethlehem, Billings, Cary, Chicago, Cleveland, Columbus, Des Moines, …Age 18 to 55 - Tests PRT13722 in adults with advanced HR+/HER2- breast cancer
Tests PRT13722 alone and with other drugs in advanced breast cancer.
Fairfax, United StatesAlso Maumee, TamaracAge 18+ - Tests PF-07220060 alone or with other drugs in adults with advanced solid tumors
Tests PF-07220060, alone or combined, in adults with advanced solid tumors.
Boston, United StatesAlso Grand Rapids, Houston, Los Angeles, Nashville, New Haven, Newton, TrumbullAge 18+ - Tests two investigational drugs together in advanced breast cancer
Tests BNT323 with BNT327 in adults with advanced breast cancer.
Athens, United StatesAlso Atlanta, Basking Ridge, Beverly Hills, Chicago, Dallas, Detroit, Florham Park, Grand Rapids, …Age 18+ - IDE034 for Advanced Solid Tumors Including Lung, Colorectal, Ovarian and Prostate Cancers
Tests IDE034 in adults with advanced solid tumors that carry B7-H3 and PTK7.
Austin, United StatesAlso Celebration, Denver, Detroit, Duarte, East Brunswick, Fairfax, Fort Worth, Houston, …Age 18+ - Testing Metarrestin, a New Drug, for Cancers That Have Spread
Tests metarrestin in adults and children with spreading solid tumors.
Bethesda, United StatesAlso FairwayAge 12 to 120 - Radiation and FES Scans for Spreading Estrogen-Positive Breast Cancer
Tests targeted radiation and FES scans in adults with estrogen-positive breast cancer.
Duarte, United StatesAlso IrvineAge 18+ - Tests evorpacept with trastuzumab and chemotherapy in advanced HER2-positive breast cancer
Tests evorpacept with trastuzumab and chemotherapy in adults with spread HER2-positive breast cancer.
Ann Arbor, United StatesAlso Billings, Canton, Dallas, Denver, Duarte, Durham, Fairfax, Golden, …Age 18+ - Brain Stimulation to Help Older Breast Cancer Survivors Walk After Chemotherapy
Tests mild brain stimulation on walking in older breast cancer survivors after chemotherapy.
Ann Arbor, United StatesAge 60 to 85 - Tests several drug combinations in people with metastatic breast cancer
Tests different drug combinations in adults with advanced breast cancer, by subtype.
Chattanooga, United StatesAlso Columbus, Duarte, Durham, Germantown, Hackensack, Howell Township, Irvine, La Jolla, …Age 18+ - Testing gene signatures to guide hormone-positive metastatic breast cancer treatment
Tests capecitabine chemotherapy in adults with hormone-positive metastatic breast cancer not Luminal A.
Birmingham, United StatesAlso Dallas, Memphis, NashvilleAge 18+
Where treatment stands
Approved: 61
Officially approved for this disease in the EU, the US, Switzerland or France.
Human testing stage: 55
Being tested in people. Many treatments at this stage are never approved.
Animal testing stage: 3
Worked in animals in a study published in the last 12 months. Most treatments at this stage never reach people.
Placebo: a dummy treatment without the medicine, used for comparison.
Phase 1, 2, 3: the steps of testing in people. Phase 1 checks safety, phase 3 is the last step before approval.
The EU medicines agency (EMA) and its list of medicines in the EU, US prescribing labels (DailyMed, openFDA), the Swiss medicines register (Swissmedic), the French medicines database (ANSM) and the Health Canada drug database, checked on 11 November 2026. Every medicine links to its own official text.
A computer made this list from the official texts: it kept only medicines whose own approval text names the disease, wrote "Who it is for" from that text and checked it against the text a second time. People have not reviewed it yet.
The EU medicines agency (EMA), ClinicalTrials.gov and the EU trials register, checked on 10 November 2026. Every treatment links to its own records; the texts are written by AI from them.
Medicines approved only in single countries are not included. We did not check in which countries a medicine is sold or paid for. Phase 3 trials are listed from every country; only some phase 2 trials are listed, so 244 other open phase 2 trials are not listed.
Animal and lab research: studies listed in PubMed and published in the 12 months before 12 November 2026, found by a search for breast cancer that has spread (metastatic breast cancer). AI chose the treatments from the study summaries and wrote the texts; a second AI checked each one against its study summary. People have not reviewed them yet. Treatments already in the approved or human testing lists are left out. A result in animals or cells does not show that a treatment works in people.
Not medical advice. Talk to your doctor before you change any treatment.
The approval records under a medicine come from Drugs@FDA and the FDA labels (openFDA) and from the EU medicines agency’s medicine data, with its orphan designations, checked on 13 Nov 2026. A date is the medicine’s first approval, for any use; the quoted text is its approved use as written today.
Support organisations
Patient organisations and helplines in United States, for you and your family.
Metastatic breast cancer organisations in United States
- National Cancer Institute – Cancer Information Service (CIS)
NCI's contact center: information specialists answer cancer questions from patients, families and the public by phone, chat and email.
- American Cancer Society
Nationwide US nonprofit helping people who face cancer: research, patient services, early detection, treatment information and education, with a cancer helpline on its site.
- Breast Cancer Research Foundation
Foundation whose mission is to prevent and cure breast cancer by funding research.
- Breastcancer.org
Nonprofit resource for clear, reliable, up-to-date breast cancer information and community support.
- Cactus Cancer Society
Young adult cancer resource and community: support programs for people diagnosed with cancer as young adults.
- Cancer Hope Network
Nonprofit providing free one-on-one support to cancer patients and families by matching them with trained volunteers who have had a similar experience.
- Cancer Nation
Survivor-led US cancer advocacy organization (formerly the National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship) working on quality cancer care and survivorship resources.
- FORCE – Facing Hereditary Cancer Empowered
Nonprofit for people and families facing hereditary cancer (e.g. BRCA): information on gene mutations, risk, and support.
- Imerman Angels
Nonprofit offering free one-on-one cancer support and personalized mentoring that connects cancer fighters, survivors and caregivers with someone who has been there.
- Living Beyond Breast Cancer
Breast cancer nonprofit with a 'Living with Metastatic Breast Cancer' section, metastatic advocate programme and conference, Breast Cancer Helpline. Number shown is the organisation's footer phone.
- Metastatic Breast Cancer Network
Patient-led network dedicated to people living with metastatic breast cancer: education, awareness and support.
- METAvivor
Metastatic breast cancer nonprofit: peer support groups, clinical trial information, advocacy, research grants.
- National Breast Cancer Foundation
Foundation providing early detection screenings, breast health education and support for those facing breast cancer.
- SHARE Cancer Support
Free support for breast, ovarian, uterine and cervical cancer: toll-free national support line, Zoom groups incl. metastatic lobular and brain-metastases groups, ovarian cancer section.
- Tigerlily Foundation
National women’s health and oncology organization providing breast cancer education, awareness, advocacy and support.
- Triage Cancer
National nonprofit providing free education on legal and practical issues (insurance, employment, finances) for people with cancer and caregivers.
- Young Survival Coalition
Organization for adults aged 40 and under diagnosed with breast cancer, offering community and resources.
General support in United States
- 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
US national 24/7 free and confidential lifeline for anyone in suicidal crisis or emotional distress, reachable by calling or texting 988 or by chat.
- MedlinePlus
Free, easy-to-read health information service of the US National Library of Medicine (NIH) on diseases, conditions, drugs and wellness.
International organisations
Offer tissue or data
There are three ways to help research move faster.
Approved treatments
61 medicines are approved for metastatic breast cancer in at least one of the places we checked. An approval in one place does not mean the medicine is offered or paid for where you live.
Checked on 11 Nov 2026 in the official lists of the US (FDA), the EU (EMA), Japan (PMDA, approvals since April 2004), Switzerland (Swissmedic), France (ANSM, medicines approved in France only) and Taiwan (TFDA). For Canada (Health Canada) and Singapore (HSA) we checked only whether a medicine is sold there, not what for. 10 uncertain matches are left out. Other countries' own approvals were not checked.
“Miracle cure” fact checker
Social media spreads misinformation. Paste what you read here, and we'll tell you whether there is scientific evidence behind it.
What you paste is checked with AI (Anthropic, USA) and is not stored. Please leave out names and other personal details.
Before you pay for anything, ask three things
- Is there a published study in people?
- Can I have the full price in writing?
- What does my doctor say?
“Cures” others already fact-checked
- Fenbendazole & Metastatic breast cancer
- CBD (cannabidiol) & Metastatic breast cancer
- Vitamin C (incl. high-dose) & Metastatic breast cancer
- Ivermectin & Metastatic breast cancer
About metastatic breast cancer
Sources: NCI, NHS, Breast Cancer Now, European Journal of Cancer
A stage of breast cancer in which it has spread to other parts of the body, most often the bones, lungs, brain or liver. The signs depend on where it has spread, for example bone pain, shortness of breath, headaches or yellow skin. It usually cannot be cured, but treatment can slow it down, and many people live a normal life for several years. It can be there at the first diagnosis, or appear months, years or even decades after treatment for early breast cancer.
What is it?
Metastatic breast cancer, also called secondary, advanced or stage 4 breast cancer, happens when cancer cells leave the breast and travel through the blood or lymph system. They form new tumours elsewhere, most often in the bones, lungs, brain or liver. The new tumours are still breast cancer: cancer that has spread to a bone is treated as breast cancer, not bone cancer.
About 20 to 30 in every 100 women diagnosed with early breast cancer later get metastatic breast cancer. It can come months, years or even decades after the first treatment. In the United States, about 5 or 6 in every 100 women with newly found breast cancer already have it when they are diagnosed.
The first signs
The signs depend on where the cancer has spread, and some people have none.
- bone pain, or bones that break easily;
- shortness of breath, if it is in the lungs;
- yellow skin or eyes, or a swollen belly, if it is in the liver;
- headaches, seizures, dizziness, or changes in speech or sight, if it is in the brain;
- unusual tiredness.
Other conditions can cause them too.
How doctors find out
A sample of the new tumour (a biopsy) confirms that it is breast cancer that has spread. It is tested for hormone receptors and HER2, because these can be different from the first tumour, and the results guide treatment. Blood tests check how your liver and other organs work. Scans show where the cancer is: CT, a bone scan (one injection, then a painless scan of the whole body), MRI or X-rays. Blood tests for tumour markers can later show how well treatment works. A cancer specialist (oncologist) usually leads your care.
Current treatment
Hormone, targeted or chemotherapy, by tumour type
Will it get worse?
Treatment aims to stop or slow the cancer and to ease symptoms. Some people live for years with the cancer well controlled, and many lead a normal life for several years. Over time a medicine can stop working; then your team changes the treatment. Palliative care, to manage symptoms and support you and your family, can be given at any time, alongside other treatment.
Medicines: what helps, and what to watch for
The medicines depend on the type of cancer. Hormone therapy lowers hormone levels or blocks them from reaching the cancer: for example letrozole, anastrozole, tamoxifen or fulvestrant. It is often combined with a targeted medicine such as palbociclib, ribociclib or abemaciclib. HER2-positive cancer is treated with targeted medicines such as trastuzumab or pertuzumab. People with a BRCA gene change may get targeted therapy drugs. Chemotherapy is also used, and for triple-negative cancer it is combined with immunotherapy. If your cancer has spread to the bone, you may be given bisphosphonates to lower a high level of calcium in your blood.
Good to know:
- Targeted medicines often cause diarrhoea and liver problems, and sometimes mouth sores or changes to hair and nails;
Exercise and therapy help too
Tiredness is one of the most common symptoms. Most cancer pain can be well controlled, and your palliative care team can advise you.
Radiotherapy and surgery, for some people
Radiotherapy can shrink tumours that cause pain or other symptoms. Surgery is used for some people, for example to remove a tumour where the cancer has spread, to repair a bone, or to drain fluid that has built up. Radiotherapy can ease pain and other symptoms. Cancer that has spread can be treated but not cured.
Is there a cure?
Metastatic breast cancer can be treated but usually not cured. Treatment aims to keep it under control, ease symptoms and help you live longer. Clinical trials are testing new treatments and new combinations, and you may be able to join one.
Median survival
About 3 years after metastatic breast cancer is found
Measured in: Newly diagnosed metastatic breast cancer in France, 2008–2014: the ESME national cohort (16,702 patients)
The figures behind it
French national ESME-MBC cohort (16,702 consecutive patients newly diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer, 2008–2014): median overall survival 37.22 months for the whole cohort; 42.12 months for HR-positive/HER2-negative, 44.91 months for HER2-positive and 14.52 months for triple-negative disease.
Sources
Written in plain words by Frontlight from these pages:
- Breast Cancer Now (charity): Living with metastatic breast cancer
- NCI: Metastatic Breast Cancer
- NHS (Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust): Secondary breast cancer
- NCI: Breast Cancer Treatment by Stage
- NHS: Breast cancer in women – Treatment
- NHS: Chemotherapy – Side effects
- NCI: Targeted Therapy for Breast Cancer
- NCI: Hormone Therapy for Breast Cancer
- European Journal of Cancer: Time trends of overall survival among metastatic breast cancer patients in the real-life ESME cohort