Table 1. Principles of the guidelines.

Recommendations	Evidence level
(I) The management of ABC is complicated and therefore urgently requires the involvement of experts from different departments (including but not limited to oncologists, radiologists, surgeons, imaging experts, pathologists, gynecologists, psychologists, social workers, nurses, and palliative care experts)	Expert opinions
(II) After the confirmation of ABC, the patients should be provided with reasonable psycho-social support, daily care, and symptomatic treatment, which should be included in the routine treatment protocol. The above treatment should follow the principles of individualized treatment to meet the demands of different patients	Expert opinions
(III) After detailed diseases assessment, the physicians should talk with the patients about the future treatment and nursing objectives. The patients should be informed that, although MBC is a non-curable disease, proper treatment can remarkably prolong the survival. Receptive language should be used during such a talk. Technical terms should be avoided. Meanwhile, the physician should respect the patients’ privacy and cultural differences and provide text message whenever possible	Expert opinions
(IV) Patients (and their family members and caregivers upon the patient’s permission) should be invited to participate in the treatment decision-making. Patients and their family members are encouraged to involve in treatment decision-making	Expert opinions
(V) Standard treatment for ABC is still very limited. After obtaining the informed content, the physician should encourage the patients to participate in well-designed prospective randomized clinical trials as early as possible	Expert opinions
(VI) The treatment cost should be taken into consideration. When making a decision on the ABC treatment, the physician must consider multiple aspects including the affordability, quality of life, life expectancy, and patient’s willingness	Expert opinions
(VII) The patients’ subjective experience often reflects both the severity of symptoms and the impacts of treatment on the quality of life. Therefore, it is important to accurately collect these information to inform the treatment and nursing	Expert opinions

ABC, advanced breast cancer.