{"id":1864,"date":"2026-02-07T19:49:24","date_gmt":"2026-02-07T10:49:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dev.rftcjapan.org\/?page_id=1864"},"modified":"2026-06-03T13:21:08","modified_gmt":"2026-06-03T04:21:08","slug":"metastases-and-staging","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/rftcjapan.org\/en\/about-breast-cancer\/metastases-and-staging\/","title":{"rendered":"Metastases and Staging"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-page\" data-elementor-id=\"1864\" class=\"elementor elementor-1864\" data-elementor-post-type=\"page\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-60955a9 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"60955a9\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e2479ed e-con-full elementor-hidden-mobile e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"e2479ed\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-dbc3d92 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"dbc3d92\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;sticky&quot;:&quot;top&quot;,&quot;sticky_on&quot;:[&quot;desktop&quot;,&quot;tablet&quot;],&quot;sticky_offset&quot;:100,&quot;sticky_parent&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;sticky_effects_offset&quot;:0,&quot;sticky_anchor_link_offset&quot;:0}\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e66ce7b elementor-toc--minimized-on-tablet elementor-widget elementor-widget-table-of-contents\" data-id=\"e66ce7b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;headings_by_tags&quot;:[&quot;h2&quot;],&quot;exclude_headings_by_selector&quot;:[],&quot;marker_view&quot;:&quot;numbers&quot;,&quot;minimize_box&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;minimized_on&quot;:&quot;tablet&quot;,&quot;hierarchical_view&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;min_height&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;min_height_tablet&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;min_height_mobile&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]}}\" data-widget_type=\"table-of-contents.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toc__header\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-toc__header-title\">\n\t\t\t\tTable of Contents\t\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toc__toggle-button elementor-toc__toggle-button--expand\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" aria-controls=\"elementor-toc__e66ce7b\" aria-expanded=\"true\" aria-label=\"Open table of contents\"><svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-fas-angle-down\" viewBox=\"0 0 320 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M143 352.3L7 216.3c-9.4-9.4-9.4-24.6 0-33.9l22.6-22.6c9.4-9.4 24.6-9.4 33.9 0l96.4 96.4 96.4-96.4c9.4-9.4 24.6-9.4 33.9 0l22.6 22.6c9.4 9.4 9.4 24.6 0 33.9l-136 136c-9.2 9.4-24.4 9.4-33.8 0z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toc__toggle-button elementor-toc__toggle-button--collapse\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" aria-controls=\"elementor-toc__e66ce7b\" aria-expanded=\"true\" aria-label=\"Close table of contents\"><svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-fas-angle-up\" viewBox=\"0 0 320 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M177 159.7l136 136c9.4 9.4 9.4 24.6 0 33.9l-22.6 22.6c-9.4 9.4-24.6 9.4-33.9 0L160 255.9l-96.4 96.4c-9.4 9.4-24.6 9.4-33.9 0L7 329.7c-9.4-9.4-9.4-24.6 0-33.9l136-136c9.4-9.5 24.6-9.5 34-.1z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-toc__e66ce7b\" class=\"elementor-toc__body\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toc__spinner-container\">\n\t\t\t\t<svg class=\"elementor-toc__spinner eicon-animation-spin e-font-icon-svg e-eicon-loading\" aria-hidden=\"true\" viewBox=\"0 0 1000 1000\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M500 975V858C696 858 858 696 858 500S696 142 500 142 142 304 142 500H25C25 237 238 25 500 25S975 237 975 500 763 975 500 975Z\"><\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8b95c4e elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"8b95c4e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h6 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">About Breast Cancer<\/h6>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-669a687 elementor-widget elementor-widget-template\" data-id=\"669a687\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"template.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-template\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"section\" data-elementor-id=\"3044\" class=\"elementor elementor-3044\" data-elementor-post-type=\"elementor_library\">\n\t\t\t<div role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"e-n-accordion-item-2330\" class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-fd830c6 e-con-full e-grid e-con e-child\" data-id=\"fd830c6\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"e-n-accordion-item-2330\" class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3717cd6 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"3717cd6\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e6c4d06 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"e6c4d06\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h4 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Breast Cancer Basics<\/h4>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c84b33f elementor-nav-menu--dropdown-none elementor-widget elementor-widget-nav-menu\" data-id=\"c84b33f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;layout&quot;:&quot;vertical&quot;,&quot;submenu_icon&quot;:{&quot;value&quot;:&quot;&lt;i aria-hidden=\\&quot;true\\&quot; class=\\&quot;\\&quot;&gt;&lt;\\\/i&gt;&quot;,&quot;library&quot;:&quot;&quot;}}\" data-widget_type=\"nav-menu.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<nav aria-label=\"\u30e1\u30cb\u30e5\u30fc\" class=\"elementor-nav-menu--main elementor-nav-menu__container elementor-nav-menu--layout-vertical e--pointer-none\">\n\t\t\t\t<ul id=\"menu-1-c84b33f\" class=\"elementor-nav-menu sm-vertical\"><li class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-2517\"><a href=\"https:\/\/rftcjapan.org\/en\/about-breast-cancer\/what-is-breast-cancer\/\" class=\"elementor-item\">What is Breast Cancer?<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-2515\"><a href=\"https:\/\/rftcjapan.org\/en\/about-breast-cancer\/breast-cancer-statistics-global-japan\/\" class=\"elementor-item\">Breast Cancer Statistics (Global &amp; Japan)<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-2516\"><a href=\"https:\/\/rftcjapan.org\/en\/about-breast-cancer\/understanding-the-risk-of-breast-cancer\/\" class=\"elementor-item\">Understanding the Risk of Breast Cancer<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\t\t\t<\/nav>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<nav class=\"elementor-nav-menu--dropdown elementor-nav-menu__container\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t<ul id=\"menu-2-c84b33f\" class=\"elementor-nav-menu sm-vertical\"><li class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-2517\"><a href=\"https:\/\/rftcjapan.org\/en\/about-breast-cancer\/what-is-breast-cancer\/\" class=\"elementor-item\" tabindex=\"-1\">What is Breast Cancer?<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-2515\"><a href=\"https:\/\/rftcjapan.org\/en\/about-breast-cancer\/breast-cancer-statistics-global-japan\/\" class=\"elementor-item\" tabindex=\"-1\">Breast Cancer Statistics (Global &amp; Japan)<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-2516\"><a href=\"https:\/\/rftcjapan.org\/en\/about-breast-cancer\/understanding-the-risk-of-breast-cancer\/\" class=\"elementor-item\" tabindex=\"-1\">Understanding the Risk of Breast Cancer<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\t\t\t<\/nav>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"e-n-accordion-item-2330\" class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-67a9bd1 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"67a9bd1\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ed0de9e elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"ed0de9e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h4 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Diagnosis &amp; Staging<\/h4>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c981917 elementor-nav-menu--dropdown-none elementor-widget elementor-widget-nav-menu\" data-id=\"c981917\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;layout&quot;:&quot;vertical&quot;,&quot;submenu_icon&quot;:{&quot;value&quot;:&quot;&lt;svg aria-hidden=\\&quot;true\\&quot; class=\\&quot;e-font-icon-svg e-fas-caret-down\\&quot; viewBox=\\&quot;0 0 320 512\\&quot; xmlns=\\&quot;http:\\\/\\\/www.w3.org\\\/2000\\\/svg\\&quot;&gt;&lt;path d=\\&quot;M31.3 192h257.3c17.8 0 26.7 21.5 14.1 34.1L174.1 354.8c-7.8 7.8-20.5 7.8-28.3 0L17.2 226.1C4.6 213.5 13.5 192 31.3 192z\\&quot;&gt;&lt;\\\/path&gt;&lt;\\\/svg&gt;&quot;,&quot;library&quot;:&quot;fa-solid&quot;}}\" data-widget_type=\"nav-menu.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<nav aria-label=\"\u30e1\u30cb\u30e5\u30fc\" class=\"elementor-nav-menu--main elementor-nav-menu__container elementor-nav-menu--layout-vertical e--pointer-none\">\n\t\t\t\t<ul id=\"menu-1-c981917\" class=\"elementor-nav-menu sm-vertical\"><li class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-2521\"><a href=\"https:\/\/rftcjapan.org\/en\/about-breast-cancer\/signs-and-symptoms\/\" class=\"elementor-item\">Signs and Symptoms<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-2522\"><a href=\"https:\/\/rftcjapan.org\/en\/about-breast-cancer\/the-stages-of-breast-cancer\/\" class=\"elementor-item\">The Stages of Breast Cancer<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-2523\"><a href=\"https:\/\/rftcjapan.org\/en\/about-breast-cancer\/tumor-size-and-staging\/\" class=\"elementor-item\">Tumor Size and Staging<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-2520\"><a href=\"https:\/\/rftcjapan.org\/en\/about-breast-cancer\/metastases-and-staging\/\" class=\"elementor-item\">Metastases and Staging<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-2519\"><a href=\"https:\/\/rftcjapan.org\/en\/about-breast-cancer\/early-stage-breast-cancers-non-invasive\/\" class=\"elementor-item\">Early-Stage Breast Cancers (Non-invasive)<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\t\t\t<\/nav>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<nav class=\"elementor-nav-menu--dropdown elementor-nav-menu__container\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t<ul id=\"menu-2-c981917\" class=\"elementor-nav-menu sm-vertical\"><li class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-2521\"><a href=\"https:\/\/rftcjapan.org\/en\/about-breast-cancer\/signs-and-symptoms\/\" class=\"elementor-item\" tabindex=\"-1\">Signs and Symptoms<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-2522\"><a href=\"https:\/\/rftcjapan.org\/en\/about-breast-cancer\/the-stages-of-breast-cancer\/\" class=\"elementor-item\" tabindex=\"-1\">The Stages of Breast Cancer<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-2523\"><a href=\"https:\/\/rftcjapan.org\/en\/about-breast-cancer\/tumor-size-and-staging\/\" class=\"elementor-item\" tabindex=\"-1\">Tumor Size and Staging<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-2520\"><a href=\"https:\/\/rftcjapan.org\/en\/about-breast-cancer\/metastases-and-staging\/\" class=\"elementor-item\" tabindex=\"-1\">Metastases and Staging<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-2519\"><a href=\"https:\/\/rftcjapan.org\/en\/about-breast-cancer\/early-stage-breast-cancers-non-invasive\/\" class=\"elementor-item\" tabindex=\"-1\">Early-Stage Breast Cancers (Non-invasive)<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\t\t\t<\/nav>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"e-n-accordion-item-2330\" class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-dd578e0 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"dd578e0\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6342a8d elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"6342a8d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h4 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Risk Factors &amp; Genetics<\/h4>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-857c29f elementor-nav-menu--dropdown-none elementor-widget elementor-widget-nav-menu\" data-id=\"857c29f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;layout&quot;:&quot;vertical&quot;,&quot;submenu_icon&quot;:{&quot;value&quot;:&quot;&lt;svg aria-hidden=\\&quot;true\\&quot; class=\\&quot;e-font-icon-svg e-fas-caret-down\\&quot; viewBox=\\&quot;0 0 320 512\\&quot; xmlns=\\&quot;http:\\\/\\\/www.w3.org\\\/2000\\\/svg\\&quot;&gt;&lt;path d=\\&quot;M31.3 192h257.3c17.8 0 26.7 21.5 14.1 34.1L174.1 354.8c-7.8 7.8-20.5 7.8-28.3 0L17.2 226.1C4.6 213.5 13.5 192 31.3 192z\\&quot;&gt;&lt;\\\/path&gt;&lt;\\\/svg&gt;&quot;,&quot;library&quot;:&quot;fa-solid&quot;}}\" data-widget_type=\"nav-menu.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<nav aria-label=\"\u30e1\u30cb\u30e5\u30fc\" class=\"elementor-nav-menu--main elementor-nav-menu__container elementor-nav-menu--layout-vertical e--pointer-none\">\n\t\t\t\t<ul id=\"menu-1-857c29f\" class=\"elementor-nav-menu sm-vertical\"><li class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-2525\"><a href=\"https:\/\/rftcjapan.org\/en\/about-breast-cancer\/brca1-and-brca2-mutations-in-men\/\" class=\"elementor-item\">BRCA1 and BRCA2 Mutations in Men<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-2526\"><a href=\"https:\/\/rftcjapan.org\/en\/about-breast-cancer\/brca1-and-brca2-mutations-in-women\/\" class=\"elementor-item\">BRCA1 and BRCA2 Mutations in Women<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-2528\"><a href=\"https:\/\/rftcjapan.org\/en\/about-breast-cancer\/lobular-carcinoma-in-situ-lcis\/\" class=\"elementor-item\">Lobular Carcinoma in Situ (LCIS)<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-2527\"><a href=\"https:\/\/rftcjapan.org\/en\/about-breast-cancer\/early-life-exposures\/\" class=\"elementor-item\">Early Life Exposures<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\t\t\t<\/nav>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<nav class=\"elementor-nav-menu--dropdown elementor-nav-menu__container\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t<ul id=\"menu-2-857c29f\" class=\"elementor-nav-menu sm-vertical\"><li class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-2525\"><a href=\"https:\/\/rftcjapan.org\/en\/about-breast-cancer\/brca1-and-brca2-mutations-in-men\/\" class=\"elementor-item\" tabindex=\"-1\">BRCA1 and BRCA2 Mutations in Men<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-2526\"><a href=\"https:\/\/rftcjapan.org\/en\/about-breast-cancer\/brca1-and-brca2-mutations-in-women\/\" class=\"elementor-item\" tabindex=\"-1\">BRCA1 and BRCA2 Mutations in Women<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-2528\"><a href=\"https:\/\/rftcjapan.org\/en\/about-breast-cancer\/lobular-carcinoma-in-situ-lcis\/\" class=\"elementor-item\" tabindex=\"-1\">Lobular Carcinoma in Situ (LCIS)<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-2527\"><a href=\"https:\/\/rftcjapan.org\/en\/about-breast-cancer\/early-life-exposures\/\" class=\"elementor-item\" tabindex=\"-1\">Early Life Exposures<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\t\t\t<\/nav>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"e-n-accordion-item-2330\" class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8382bf4 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"8382bf4\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f24ff62 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"f24ff62\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h4 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Benign Breast Conditions<\/h4>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e396cf6 elementor-nav-menu--dropdown-none elementor-widget elementor-widget-nav-menu\" data-id=\"e396cf6\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;layout&quot;:&quot;vertical&quot;,&quot;submenu_icon&quot;:{&quot;value&quot;:&quot;&lt;svg aria-hidden=\\&quot;true\\&quot; class=\\&quot;e-font-icon-svg e-fas-caret-down\\&quot; viewBox=\\&quot;0 0 320 512\\&quot; xmlns=\\&quot;http:\\\/\\\/www.w3.org\\\/2000\\\/svg\\&quot;&gt;&lt;path d=\\&quot;M31.3 192h257.3c17.8 0 26.7 21.5 14.1 34.1L174.1 354.8c-7.8 7.8-20.5 7.8-28.3 0L17.2 226.1C4.6 213.5 13.5 192 31.3 192z\\&quot;&gt;&lt;\\\/path&gt;&lt;\\\/svg&gt;&quot;,&quot;library&quot;:&quot;fa-solid&quot;}}\" data-widget_type=\"nav-menu.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<nav aria-label=\"\u30e1\u30cb\u30e5\u30fc\" class=\"elementor-nav-menu--main elementor-nav-menu__container elementor-nav-menu--layout-vertical e--pointer-none\">\n\t\t\t\t<ul id=\"menu-1-e396cf6\" class=\"elementor-nav-menu sm-vertical\"><li class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-7721\"><a href=\"https:\/\/rftcjapan.org\/en\/about-breast-cancer\/chemo-side-effects\/\" class=\"elementor-item\">Chemo side effects<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-2529\"><a href=\"https:\/\/rftcjapan.org\/en\/about-breast-cancer\/patient-faq\/\" class=\"elementor-item\">Patient FAQ<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\t\t\t<\/nav>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<nav class=\"elementor-nav-menu--dropdown elementor-nav-menu__container\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t<ul id=\"menu-2-e396cf6\" class=\"elementor-nav-menu sm-vertical\"><li class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-7721\"><a href=\"https:\/\/rftcjapan.org\/en\/about-breast-cancer\/chemo-side-effects\/\" class=\"elementor-item\" tabindex=\"-1\">Chemo side effects<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-2529\"><a href=\"https:\/\/rftcjapan.org\/en\/about-breast-cancer\/patient-faq\/\" class=\"elementor-item\" tabindex=\"-1\">Patient FAQ<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\t\t\t<\/nav>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e3360f5 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"e3360f5\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-30d54ab elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"30d54ab\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h1 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Metastases and Staging<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-455ae35 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"455ae35\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>When breast cancer is diagnosed, doctors determine its <strong>stage<\/strong> to understand how far the cancer has spread and how best to treat it. One important part of staging is whether the cancer has <strong>metastasized<\/strong>.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-209181d elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"209181d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/rftcjapan.org\/wpdata\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/graphic-metastatic-breast-cancer.svg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-6653\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d1729c1 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"d1729c1\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-68d1c14 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"68d1c14\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">What Are Metastases?<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5625396 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"5625396\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>Metastases<\/strong> occur when cancer cells break away from the original tumor in the breast and travel to other parts of the body through the <strong>bloodstream or lymphatic system<\/strong>. When these cells settle and grow in another organ, this is called <strong>metastatic breast cancer<\/strong>.<\/p><p>Even when <strong>breast cancer<\/strong> spreads, it is still considered breast cancer, not a new type of cancer based on where it spreads.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-53785e2 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"53785e2\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e29dade elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"e29dade\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Common Sites of Breast Cancer Metastasis<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-fa04744 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"fa04744\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Breast cancer most commonly spreads to:<\/p><ul><li>Bones<\/li><li>Lungs<\/li><li>Liver<\/li><li>Brain<\/li><\/ul><p>Not everyone with breast cancer will develop metastases, and many people live long, meaningful lives even if cancer does spread.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f3b2d84 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"f3b2d84\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-071a0dd elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"071a0dd\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">How Metastases Affect Staging<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ea22c2b elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"ea22c2b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Breast cancer staging is based on the <strong>TNM system<\/strong>:<\/p><ul><li><strong>T (Tumor):<\/strong> Size and extent of the original tumor<\/li><li><strong>N (Nodes):<\/strong> Whether cancer has spread to nearby lymph nodes<\/li><li><strong>M (Metastasis):<\/strong> Whether cancer has spread to distant organs<\/li><\/ul><p><strong>M Category Explained:<\/strong><\/p><ul><li><strong>M0:<\/strong> No evidence of distant metastasis<\/li><li><strong>M1:<\/strong> Distant metastasis is present<\/li><\/ul><p>Any breast cancer that has spread to distant organs is classified as Stage IV, regardless of tumor size or lymph node involvement.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-24a1545 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"24a1545\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" src=\"https:\/\/rftcjapan.org\/wpdata\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/placeholder-1200x800.webp\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-461\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/rftcjapan.org\/wpdata\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/placeholder-1200x800.webp 1200w, https:\/\/rftcjapan.org\/wpdata\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/placeholder-600x400.webp 600w, https:\/\/rftcjapan.org\/wpdata\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/placeholder-1080x720.webp 1080w, https:\/\/rftcjapan.org\/wpdata\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/placeholder-300x200.webp 300w, https:\/\/rftcjapan.org\/wpdata\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/placeholder-768x512.webp 768w, https:\/\/rftcjapan.org\/wpdata\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/placeholder-1536x1024.webp 1536w, https:\/\/rftcjapan.org\/wpdata\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/placeholder.webp 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5ba4149 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"5ba4149\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-fbe654d elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"fbe654d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Breast Cancer Stages and Metastases<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0ee5832 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"0ee5832\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul><li><strong>Stages 0\u2013III (Non-Metastatic Breast Cancer):<\/strong><br \/>Cancer is confined to the breast and nearby lymph nodes. These stages are considered non-metastatic and are often curable.<\/li><li><strong>Stage IV (Metastatic Breast Cancer):<\/strong><br \/>Cancer has spread to distant parts of the body. While not considered curable, it is treatable, and many people live for years with good quality of life.<\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-55a3f78 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"55a3f78\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3ad267c elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"3ad267c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Symptoms of Metastatic Breast Cancer<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-41a3542 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"41a3542\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Symptoms vary depending on where the cancer has spread and may include:<\/p><ul><li>Persistent bone pain or fractures<\/li><li>Shortness of breath or chronic cough<\/li><li>Abdominal pain or jaundice<\/li><li>Headaches, vision changes, or dizziness<\/li><li>Unexplained weight loss or fatigue<\/li><\/ul><p>These symptoms can also be caused by non-cancer conditions, but they should always be evaluated by a healthcare provider.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-28f3cfc e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"28f3cfc\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ef46280 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"ef46280\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">How Metastases Are Diagnosed<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-229396c elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"229396c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Doctors may use a combination of:<\/p><ul><li>Imaging tests (CT scans, bone scans, PET scans, MRI)<\/li><li>Blood tests<\/li><li>Biopsy of a metastatic site (in some cases)<\/li><\/ul><p>Testing helps confirm whether metastases are present and guides treatment decisions.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b327bf0 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"b327bf0\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-65739ba elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"65739ba\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Treatment and Hope<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f2a7b58 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"f2a7b58\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Treatment for metastatic breast cancer focuses on:<\/p><ul><li>Controlling cancer growth<\/li><li>Relieving symptoms<\/li><li>Maintaining quality of life<\/li><\/ul><p>Advances in targeted therapy, hormone therapy, immunotherapy, and chemotherapy have significantly improved outcomes, allowing many people to live longer and fuller lives with metastatic disease.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c2cbd97 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"c2cbd97\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-67dc334 e-con-full section-s e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"67dc334\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8eb83a0 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"8eb83a0\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-82f1e18 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"82f1e18\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h5 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">A Closing Message<\/h5>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f10a0df elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"f10a0df\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Hearing the word \u201cmetastases\u201d can be frightening, but it does not mean hope is lost.<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-000a991 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"000a991\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Breast cancer treatment continues to advance, and care is increasingly personalized. If you or a loved one has metastatic breast cancer, you are not alone. Support, treatment options, and hope remain.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-76b2b66 elementor-absolute elementor-view-default elementor-widget elementor-widget-icon\" data-id=\"76b2b66\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;_position&quot;:&quot;absolute&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"icon.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon\">\n\t\t\t<svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-fas-bookmark\" viewBox=\"0 0 384 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M0 512V48C0 21.49 21.49 0 48 0h288c26.51 0 48 21.49 48 48v464L192 400 0 512z\"><\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Table of Contents About Breast Cancer When breast cancer is diagnosed, doctors determine its stage to understand how far the cancer has spread and how best to treat it. One important part of staging is whether the cancer has metastasized. What Are Metastases? Metastases occur when cancer cells break away from the original tumor in [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":27,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-1864","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.7 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Metastases and Staging - RFTC Japan<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/rftcjapan.org\/en\/about-breast-cancer\/metastases-and-staging\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Metastases and Staging - RFTC Japan\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Table of Contents About Breast Cancer When breast cancer is diagnosed, doctors determine its stage to understand how far the cancer has spread and how best to treat it. 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