Spread of breast cancer to other organs

Hello
My mother was diagnosed with breast cancer and had a lumpectomy in 1997. Now, four years later a ct scan has revealed two small masses on her liver and two small masses on her spine. My question is "How serious are these masses?" I am told that they are metastases? Meaning the breast cancer has traveled? She is scheduled to begin chemotherapy and is very weak and has lost weight. How do doctors treat these "metastases"
Thank you in advance for your help regarding this serious matter.
Sidney52

[CCF-RN,MSN-JS]

Dear Sidney, Breast cancer can spread (metastasize) to other areas of the body.  This can happen even years after the original diagnosis of breast cancer. Treatment of metastatic breast cancer varies, and is based on the patient

[Maman]

I just wanted to add that, although mets are serious there are many treatments and your mother may well respond to one of them. The vast majority of women in my online group are in treatment for similar mets to bone, liver, lungs and even the brain. Although most of us were initially told that, once the disease spreads outside the breast, there is no 'cure'  we feel that breast cancer is becoming more and more like a chronic disease, specifically, it CAN be successfully ttreated, if not cured. Good Luck.