My mum was diagnosed earlier this year with Luminal B, Malignant metastatic breast cancer. What does this mean? She lives in Spain and feels like things are getting lost in translation. Is metastatic always Stage 4? Or can it be a lower stage also?
thank you.
I am Sharon, one of the nurses on the Macmillan Cancer Support Line.
Thank you for contacting us here on Ask a Nurse for information and support. It can be difficult to support a loved one with a cancer diagnosis, particularly with mum not living locally. We are here taking calls every day 8 til 8 if you think it would be useful to talk to someone.
Mum’s hospital team are best placed to ask specific questions about her type of cancer as they know her medical history and have the results of biopsies and scans. We can give you general information that may help you to make sense of the diagnosis and prompt you to think about what questions you would like to ask.
We cannot advise on the processes of medical care in Spain, but we would recommend mum requests a consultation with her contact from the hospital team so that she can be given time to clarify things and ask questions that she wants to ask. If needed she could request an interpreter.
Luminal breast cancer is the most common subtype of breast cancer, accounting for approximately 70% of all breast cancer diagnoses. Luminal tumours originate in the cells that line the breast duct.
Luminal B breast cancer unfortunately tends to be one of the faster growing subtypes. Mum’s hospital team will be able to advise on what this means for your mum.
The term metastatic breast cancer is generally used for cancer that has metastasised or spread to other organs in the body (stage 4), but it is important for her to clarify this if you think that some details are being lost in translation.
I hope this information is useful for you. Do not hesitate to call the support line if you need a chat. There is also a breast cancer forum on our website, where you can find support from other family members in a similar situation.
Take care,
Sharon Ayres
Cancer Information Nurse Specialist
You can also speak with the Macmillan Support Line team of experts. Phone free on 0808 808 0000 (7 days a week, 8am-8pm) or send us an email. Ref SA/KDF
