The brain is the most complex organ in the body.1 It is protected by the blood-brainbarrier, which acts like a gatekeeper for the brain.2 Although the blood-brain barrieris effective, it’s not impenetrable.3
Sometimes cancer cells break away from their original tumour to a new area of the body, including the brain.4 With nearly 1 in 3 people with metastatic breast cancer eventually developing brain metastases,5 this video helps to learn more about how they develop, how to recognise them, and when to speak to your doctor or nurse.
References:
- National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. Brain basics: Know your brain. Available at https://www.ninds.nih.gov/healthinformation/public-education/brain-basics/brain-basics-know-your-brain [Accessed October 2023]
- Daneman R, Prat A. Cold Spring Harb Perspect Biol.2015;7(1):a020412
- Kadry H, et al. Fluids Barriers CNS. 2020;17(1):69
- Cancer.Net. Breast cancer - metastatic: introduction. Available at https://www.cancer.net/cancer-types/breast-cancer-metastatic/introduction [Accessed October 2023]
- Zimmer AS, et al. Cancer Rep (Hoboken). 2022;5(4):e1274.