Symptoms of secondary breast cancer can vary depending on where the tumours settle and grow in the body.

They can include:

• Worsening pain in your bones, i.e. ribs, hips or back
• Breathlessness
• Feeling sick (nausea)
• An uncomfortable stomach area (abdomen)
• Headaches
• Finding it hard to talk, balance or coordinate movements
• Feeling generally unwell and weight loss

It is important to note that these symptoms are not always caused by secondary breast cancer. If you have any of these symptoms please consult your doctor.

Diagnosis

The two main methods of diagnosis are imaging (including x-ray, MRI, CT, or ultrasound) and biopsies (a small sample of tissue or cells tested in the laboratory to examine the characteristics of the cell or tissue.) The method of diagnosis varies from person to person depending on the nature of the cancer.