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Advanced breast cancer: diagnosis and treatment

  • Clinical guideline
  • Reference number: CG81
  • Published:  23 February 2009
  • Last updated:  30 June 2026
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  • Overview
  • Using this guideline
  • Providing information and supportive care, and data collection to improve care
  • Diagnosis and assessment
  • Systemic anticancer therapy
  • Managing treatment side effects and menopausal symptoms
  • Managing uncontrolled local disease and metastases
  • Terms used in this guideline
  • Recommendations for research
  • Finding more information and committee details
  • Update information

Terms used in this guideline

Advanced breast cancer

This is made up of 2 groups: cancer that is locally advanced (stage 3) and unresectable (inoperable), and cancer that has spread from the original location to a new location (known as metastatic, secondary or stage 4 breast cancer).


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