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HEALTH PROFESSIONAL · SOURCE READING

Treatment of Metastatic Breast Cancer

Source: Breast Cancer Treatment (PDQ®)–Health Professional Version, National Cancer Institute.

Source updated: April 25, 2025 · Captured 2026-09-09.

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Treatment of metastatic disease is palliative in intent. Goals of treatment include prolonging life and improving quality of life. The 5-year relative survival rate for women with metastatic breast cancer is 31.9%.[1] The longest median survival outcomes have been observed in patients with human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive and hormone receptor–positive metastatic breast cancer, and less favorable outcomes have been observed in patients with metastatic triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC).[2]

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Treatment Option Overview for Metastatic Breast Cancer →Metastatic HER2-Negative Hormone Receptor–Positive Breast Cancer →Metastatic HER2-Low Breast Cancer →Metastatic Triple-Negative Breast Cancer →Metastatic HER2-Positive Breast Cancer →Germline BRCA-Mutated Metastatic Breast Cancer →High Tumor Mutational Burden Breast Cancer →Chemotherapy for Metastatic Breast Cancer →Surgical Treatment for Metastatic Breast Cancer →Radiation Therapy for Metastatic Breast Cancer →Bone-Modifying Therapy for Metastatic Breast Cancer →

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