Brain Metastases in Breast Cancer

Learn more about brain metastases

The brain is the most complex organ in the body.¹ It is protected by the blood-brain barrier, which acts like a gatekeeper for the brain.² Although the blood-brain barrier is effective, it’s not impenetrable.³
Sometimes cancer cells break away from their original tumour to a new area of the body, including the brain.⁴ Nearly 1 in 3 people with metastatic breast cancer eventually develop brain metastases⁵ - learn more about how they develop, how to recognise them, and when to speak to your doctor or nurse.

References:

National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. Brain basics: Know your brain. Available at https://www.ninds.nih.gov/healthinformation/public-education/brain-basics/brain-basics-know-your-brain [Accessed October 2023]
Daneman R, Prat A. Cold Spring Harb Perspect Biol.2015;7(1):a020412
Kadry H, et al. Fluids Barriers CNS. 2020;17(1):69
Cancer.Net. Breast cancer - metastatic: introduction. Available at https://www.cancer.net/cancer-types/breast-cancer-metastatic/introduction [Accessed October 2023]
Zimmer AS, et al. Cancer Rep (Hoboken). 2022;5(4):e1274.

Why do brain metastases happen?

Learn About:

The functioning of the brain and the blood-brain barrier
Recognizing potential symptoms of brain metastases
Future implications
Causes of brain metastases
Methods of diagnosing brain metastases

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Why are brain metastases harder to treat than other metastases?

Why it is harder to treat metastases in the brain than in other parts of the body?
What needs to be considered when treating brain metastases?
How are symptoms of brain metastases treated?
How brain metastases are treated?
What does the future hold?

Brain Metastases in breast cancer

Learn more about brain metastases

Why do brain metastases happen?

Learn About:

Why are brain metastases harder to treat than other metastases?