Metastases and Staging

The letter “M’ in the TNM breast cancer staging system shows the presence or absence of metastases.

Cancer has either spread beyond the breast and nearby lymph nodes to other parts of the body (M1) or it has not (M0).

M0	No metastases
M1	Metastases

The following is a 3D interactive model showing breast cancer and possible areas of metastases (spread).

Tests for metastases

The main tests for metastases are:

• Blood tests to check for spread to the liver or bones
• Bone scans to check for spread to the bones
• X-rays and/or CT scans to check for spread to the chest, abdomen or liver

Positron emission tomography (PET) and other tests for metastases (for example, MRI) may be done, depending on your symptoms and the findings from the main tests.

Learn about treatment for metastatic breast cancer.

Learn more about bone metastases.

Learn more about breast cancer staging.