‘Remission is like a mythical unicorn in our world’: Shedding light on the harsh realities of advanced breast cancer

Pharma News: Stepping out of the shadows, metastatic breast cancer advocates are forging a path towards better outcomes for the 10,500 Australians who are living with the disease.

AstraZeneca’s latest discussion paper, welcomed by medical oncologist Professor Fran Boyle, seeks to enhance outcomes for those with advanced breast cancer. It advocates for “earlier, faster, and fairer” access to treatments and support services.

“I see my patients go through a range of emotions when they learn they have breast cancer. It’s a diagnosis where fear and anxiety take a firm hold,” said Professor Boyle, highlighting the profound emotional toll of living with an incurable cancer.

“With metastatic breast cancer there is no end date for treatment and care. And with a 5-year survival rate of just 32%, they talk about the need to make every day count.”

Adding to therapeutic advancements, the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee (PBAC) recommended Enhertu (trastuzumab deruxtecan) in April, a targeted therapy jointly developed by AstraZeneca and Daiichi Sankyo, for HER2-low unresectable or metastatic breast cancer.

Rachelle Panitz, CEO of So Brave, Australia’s young women’s breast cancer charity, alongside numerous Federal MPs and Senators, recently launched Legacy of Love, a poignant collection of stories from women living with metastatic breast cancer.

“Young women with metastatic breast cancer often feel isolated and overlooked. We are also calling on policymakers to recognise and support this vulnerable group,” Panitz emphasised.

Cassie, 36 and living with metastatic breast cancer, said “Colleagues and friends often ask me when I’ll be in remission or if the disease will stop. But remission is like a mythical unicorn in our world, and I’m constantly haunted by the thought of cancer.

Echoing a resilient spirit amidst the challenges, she added “Because I am a fighter, I’m going to keep going but with a different form of optimism.”

The Breast Cancer Network Australia (BCNA) unveiled a report last year at a national roundtable in Parliament titled Making Metastatic Breast Cancer Count – A Way Forward, advocating for the consistent inclusion of all metastatic breast cancer patients in cancer registries.

As Kate Thwaites MP, Assistant Minister for Women, said “Without good data we are, in a way, fighting in the dark.”

Australians with metastatic breast cancer face compounded psychological and financial pressures, often forcing them to make difficult decisions such as reducing work hours or completely withdrawing from employment during treatment.

A new online support tool, developed by researchers at Flinders University with support from BCNA and Cancer Council SA, is aiming to guide people through the psychological impact of their metastatic breast cancer diagnosis.

Professor Boyle stressed the importance of informed support, saying “Giving the community information with clear direction and guidance on where the next test and treatment may be coming from is absolutely essential to bring hope to people’s lives. Specific support and care, tailored to the stage of their cancer, and access to psychosocial services is also imperative to meet their evolving needs.”

The AstraZeneca-supported discussion paper identified three critical priorities for advancing progress in metastatic breast cancer: enhancing visibility by creating platforms to discuss the realities and needs of those living with incurable breast cancer, amplifying the voices of patients by ensuring access to new developments and information, and increasing support through a national expansion of metastatic breast cancer nurses and improved access to psychosocial services.

Sharing her optimism for the future, Emma, 36 and living with metastatic breast cancer, said “I’m hopeful for a future with better support and more help. A future where we’re equipped with the right information to tackle each day as it comes, living our lives to the fullest.”

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