Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsFrequent SymptomsRare SymptomsComplicationsWhen to Seek Medical Care

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

Frequent Symptoms

Rare Symptoms

Complications

When to Seek Medical Care

HER2-positive metastatic breast canceris a type of cancer that starts in the breast and then spreads, ormetastasizes, into other areas of the body, such as the lungs, liver, bones, or brain. HER2-positive means the cancer cells have more than a normal amount of HER2 proteins on the outside of the cells. These proteins signal the cells to continue to grow.This article will review the possible symptoms of HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer.Verywell / Jessica OlahFrequent SymptomsSymptoms of HER2-positive breast cancer are generally the same as metastatic breast cancer that is not HER2-positive. What symptoms are experienced will depend upon the organ or part of the body where the cancer is growing. The most common sites for breast cancer to spread are the brain, bones, lungs, and liver.BrainIf there is cancer in the brain, symptoms can include:HeadachesDizzinessVision changesFeeling off balanceSeizuresNausea and vomitingConfusionBonesWhen cancer is growing in the bones, symptoms can include pain in the bone or joint, or maybe swelling in the area around the bone. Sometimes, the cancer weakens the affected bone, increasing the risk of a break, or fracture.LungsIf cancer cells move into the lungs, it can cause these symptoms:CoughShortness of breathPainLiverIf cancer cells spread to the liver, some symptoms that may be seen are:Suppressed appetiteYellowing of the skin or whites of the eyesFeverEnlargement or pain in the abdomenNauseaRare SymptomsIt is rare for HER2-positive breast cancer to spread to areas of the body outside of the brain, bones, lungs, and liver. If breast cancer does spread elsewhere, it may cause the following symptoms:EyesIf breast cancer cells invade the eye tissue, there can be visual changes and swelling to the eye.Reproductive organsIf breast cancer spreads into the female reproductive organs such as the ovaries, uterus, or vagina, there may be pelvic pain or vaginal bleeding.ComplicationsHER2-positive breast cancer that spreads into other areas of the body outside of the breast can be a life-threatening problem.The cancer cells that invade healthy tissues can cause those other organs to fail.When to See a Doctor/Go to the HospitalIf any symptom that comes up feels like a medical emergency or seems life-threatening, it is important to seek medical help immediately.Symptoms that develop gradually and are persistent, without any improvement, should be discussed with your healthcare provider, so that a quick evaluation of the cause of the symptom can be discovered.SummaryMetastatic HER2-positive breast cancer can cause a variety of symptoms. These symptoms vary depending on the part of the body being affected. Breast cancer most commonly spreads to the brain, bones, lungs, or liver.A Word From VerywellIf you have a diagnosis of HER2-positive breast cancer and you start to notice new symptoms, notify your healthcare team quickly. These symptoms should be evaluated to see if metastatic cancer is the reason you’re having them. However, it is also important to remember that not every symptom will be due to cancer.

HER2-positive metastatic breast canceris a type of cancer that starts in the breast and then spreads, ormetastasizes, into other areas of the body, such as the lungs, liver, bones, or brain. HER2-positive means the cancer cells have more than a normal amount of HER2 proteins on the outside of the cells. These proteins signal the cells to continue to grow.This article will review the possible symptoms of HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer.

Verywell / Jessica Olah

Brain Symptoms of HER2+ Metastatic Breast Cancer: A person’s head with squiggles (headaches or dizziness), two clocks (vision changes), a person off balance (feeling off balance), a person lying down (seizures), a person looking like they might throw up (naseau/vomiting), a head with squiggles (confusion)

Symptoms of HER2-positive breast cancer are generally the same as metastatic breast cancer that is not HER2-positive. What symptoms are experienced will depend upon the organ or part of the body where the cancer is growing. The most common sites for breast cancer to spread are the brain, bones, lungs, and liver.

Brain

If there is cancer in the brain, symptoms can include:

Bones

When cancer is growing in the bones, symptoms can include pain in the bone or joint, or maybe swelling in the area around the bone. Sometimes, the cancer weakens the affected bone, increasing the risk of a break, or fracture.

Lungs

If cancer cells move into the lungs, it can cause these symptoms:

Liver

If cancer cells spread to the liver, some symptoms that may be seen are:

It is rare for HER2-positive breast cancer to spread to areas of the body outside of the brain, bones, lungs, and liver. If breast cancer does spread elsewhere, it may cause the following symptoms:

Eyes

If breast cancer cells invade the eye tissue, there can be visual changes and swelling to the eye.

Reproductive organs

If breast cancer spreads into the female reproductive organs such as the ovaries, uterus, or vagina, there may be pelvic pain or vaginal bleeding.

HER2-positive breast cancer that spreads into other areas of the body outside of the breast can be a life-threatening problem.

The cancer cells that invade healthy tissues can cause those other organs to fail.

When to See a Doctor/Go to the Hospital

If any symptom that comes up feels like a medical emergency or seems life-threatening, it is important to seek medical help immediately.

Symptoms that develop gradually and are persistent, without any improvement, should be discussed with your healthcare provider, so that a quick evaluation of the cause of the symptom can be discovered.

Summary

Metastatic HER2-positive breast cancer can cause a variety of symptoms. These symptoms vary depending on the part of the body being affected. Breast cancer most commonly spreads to the brain, bones, lungs, or liver.

A Word From Verywell

If you have a diagnosis of HER2-positive breast cancer and you start to notice new symptoms, notify your healthcare team quickly. These symptoms should be evaluated to see if metastatic cancer is the reason you’re having them. However, it is also important to remember that not every symptom will be due to cancer.

6 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Cancer Society.Breast Cancer HER2 status.BreastCancer.org.Brain metastasis.American Cancer Society.Bone metastases.Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.Lung metastases.Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.Liver metastases.Di Micco R, Santurro L, Gasparri ML, et al.Rare sites of breast cancer metastasis: a review.Transl Cancer Res. 2019;8(S5):S518-S552. doi:10.21037/tcr.2019.07.24

6 Sources

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Cancer Society.Breast Cancer HER2 status.BreastCancer.org.Brain metastasis.American Cancer Society.Bone metastases.Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.Lung metastases.Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.Liver metastases.Di Micco R, Santurro L, Gasparri ML, et al.Rare sites of breast cancer metastasis: a review.Transl Cancer Res. 2019;8(S5):S518-S552. doi:10.21037/tcr.2019.07.24

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

American Cancer Society.Breast Cancer HER2 status.BreastCancer.org.Brain metastasis.American Cancer Society.Bone metastases.Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.Lung metastases.Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.Liver metastases.Di Micco R, Santurro L, Gasparri ML, et al.Rare sites of breast cancer metastasis: a review.Transl Cancer Res. 2019;8(S5):S518-S552. doi:10.21037/tcr.2019.07.24

American Cancer Society.Breast Cancer HER2 status.

BreastCancer.org.Brain metastasis.

American Cancer Society.Bone metastases.

Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.Lung metastases.

Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.Liver metastases.

Di Micco R, Santurro L, Gasparri ML, et al.Rare sites of breast cancer metastasis: a review.Transl Cancer Res. 2019;8(S5):S518-S552. doi:10.21037/tcr.2019.07.24

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