Metastatic breast cancer is cancer that’s spread from your breast to other areas of your body. While rare, it’s possible for breast cancer to spread to your colon and rectum.
When breast cancer spreads, or metastasizes, to other parts of the body, it normally moves to one or more of the following areas:
- bones
- lungs
- liver
- brain
Only
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If the cancer metastasizes, treatment becomes focused on preserving your quality of life and slowing the spread of the disease. There isn’t a cure for metastatic breast cancer yet, but medical advancements are helping people live longer lives.
Symptoms associated with breast cancer that’s spread to the colon or rectum
An older review of cases treated at the Mayo Clinic also found that 25% of women who had colon and rectum metastases experienced blockage of the intestine.
It’s worth noting that in the review, colon metastases are broken down to cover eight other sites, including the:
- stomach
- esophagus
- small bowel
In other words, this percentage covers more than just women with metastasis in the colon and rectum.
Breast cancer
If breast cancer cells break off the original tumor and travel via blood or the lymphatic system to another part of your body, it’s referred to as metastatic breast cancer.
When breast cancer cells travel to the lungs or bones and form tumors there, these new tumors are still made of breast cancer cells.
These tumors or groups of cells are considered breast cancer metastases and not lung cancer or bone cancer.
Almost all types of cancer have the potential to spread anywhere in the body. Still, most follow certain pathways to specific organs. It’s not fully understood why this happens.
Breast cancer can spread to the colon, but it’s not likely to do so. It’s
When this does happen, cancer is more often found in the peritoneal tissue that lines the abdominal cavity, stomach, or small intestine instead of the large intestine, which includes the colon.
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- to the bone 65.1% of the time
- to the lung 31.4% of the time
- to the liver 26% of the time
- to the brain 8.8% of the time
Colon metastases are so uncommon that they don’t make the list.
When breast cancer spreads to the colon, it
If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms, especially if you’ve previously received a breast cancer diagnosis, speak with your doctor.
Your doctor
When examining your colon, your doctor will look for polyps. Polyps are small growths of abnormal tissue that can form in the colon. Although most of them are harmless, polyps can become cancerous.
When you have a colonoscopy or sigmoidoscopy, your doctor will snip off any polyps they find. These polyps will then be tested for cancer.
If cancer is found, this testing will show whether the cancer is breast cancer that’s spread to the colon or if it’s a new cancer that originated in the colon.
Colonoscopy
A colonoscopy is a test that allows your doctor to look at the inner lining of your large intestine, which includes the rectum and colon.
They use a thin, flexible tube with a tiny camera on the end called a colonoscope. This tube is inserted into your anus and up through your colon. A colonoscopy
- ulcers
- colon polyps
- tumors
- inflammation
- areas that are bleeding
The camera then sends images to a video screen, which will enable your doctor to make a diagnosis. Normally, you’ll be given medication to help you sleep through the exam.
Flexible sigmoidoscopy
A flexible sigmoidoscopy is similar to a colonoscopy, but the tube for a sigmoidoscopy is shorter than a colonoscope. Only the rectum and lower part of the colon
Medication usually isn’t needed for this examination.
CT colonoscopy
Sometimes called a virtual colonoscopy, a CT colonoscopy uses sophisticated X-ray technology
If you receive a diagnosis of breast cancer that’s spread to your colon, your doctor will likely order additional tests to see whether the cancer has spread to other parts of your body.
Once you know exactly what’s going on, you and your doctor can discuss the best options for treatment. This may include one or more of the following therapies.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy drugs kill cells, especially cancer cells, that are dividing and reproducing quickly. Common side effects of chemotherapy
- hair loss
- sores in the mouth
- fatigue
- nausea and vomiting
- increased risk of infection
Every person responds differently to chemotherapy. For many, the side effects of chemotherapy can be very manageable.
Hormone therapy
Most breast cancers that have spread to the colon are estrogen receptor-positive. This means the growth of breast cancer cells is triggered at least in part by the hormone estrogen.
Hormone therapy either reduces the amount of estrogen in the body or prevents estrogen from binding to the breast cancer cells and promoting their growth.
Hormone therapy is more often used to reduce the further spread of the cancer cells after initial treatment with chemotherapy, surgery, or radiation.
The more severe side effects that people may have with chemotherapy rarely occur with hormone therapy. The side effects of hormone therapy
- fatigue
- hot flashes
- vaginal dryness
- mood changes
- nausea
- changes to your periods if you have not yet reached menopause
Targeted therapy
Targeted therapy, often called molecular therapy, uses drugs that block the growth of cancer cells.
It normally has fewer side effects than chemotherapy, but the side effects
- rashes and other skin problems
- high blood pressure
- bruising
- bleeding
- diarrhea
Some drugs used in targeted therapy can damage the heart, interfere with the body’s immune system, or cause serious damage to parts of the body. Your doctor will monitor you to avoid any complications.
Surgery
Surgery may be performed to remove bowel obstructions or portions of the colon that are cancerous, as a palliative measure. However, this will not cure the breast cancer.
Radiation therapy
If you have bleeding from the bowel, radiation therapy may treat it. Radiation therapy uses X-rays, gamma rays, or charged particles to shrink tumors and kill cancer cells. Side effects
- skin changes at the site of the radiation
- nausea
- diarrhea
- urinary and bladder problems
- fatigue
Although cancer that’s metastasized can’t be cured, advancements in medicine are helping people with metastatic breast cancer lead longer lives.
These advances are also improving the quality of life for people living with the disease.
According to the
It’s important to remember that this is a general figure. It doesn’t account for your individual circumstances.
Your doctor can provide you with the most accurate outlook based on your individual diagnosis, medical history, and treatment plan.
Below are some commonly asked questions about metastatic breast cancer to the colon and rectum.
Is it possible to have breast cancer and colon cancer at the same time?
Yes,
This is known as having multiple primary cancers, which means a person has
How often do breast cancer survivors get colon cancer?
Depending on the type of cancer treatment they receive, a breast cancer survivor may be at
According to a
What is the most common organ with metastasis in patients with breast cancer?
A 2020 study found the bones to be the most common organ for breast cancer to spread to, and this occurred in
Although rare, metastatic breast cancer can spread to the colon and rectum.
Symptoms such as abdominal pain, diarrhea, and weight loss may indicate metastasis to these areas.
Treatment aims to manage symptoms and slow disease progression through options like chemotherapy, hormone therapy, targeted therapy, surgery, and radiation therapy.
While metastatic breast cancer cannot be cured, medical advancements have improved survival rates and quality of life.
If you’re experiencing any of the above symptoms or have any concerns, talk with your doctor as soon as possible.