Diagnosis and treatment of advanced breast cancer: summary of NICE guidance.

The article presents a summary of the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) guidance for the diagnosis and treatment of advanced breast cancer. Recommendations for diagnosis and assessment include an imaging assessment using diagnostic imaging such as computed tomography and bone scintigraphy, a pathological assessment which includes assessing human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) status and biopsy in the absence of tumour tissue from the primary tumour. Systemic disease modifying therapy including endocrine therapy, aromatase inhibitors, and tamoxifen are discussed. Conditions for which chemotherapy is appropriate are also examined. Guidelines for complications including lymphoedema, cancer related fatigue, bone metastases, and brain metastases are also included.