He metastatic breast cancer (CMM) is one of the most challenging in the field of oncology according to search y medicine. It is diagnosed when malignant cells have spread to other parts of the body beyond the breast, affecting organs such as the liver, lungs, bones or even the brain.
It affects more than 2,000 people every year in Spainand he says about 30,000 people in Europe suffer from this disease. Every day, 18 women die of metastatic breast cancer: 6,500 per year.
Unlike the first stages of breast cancer, metastatic disease results Psychological damage to patients and their families.
“It changes your life a lot because the disease is incurable and you are always in fear,” he told the newspaper. Gema Rodríguez Reciopatient and vice president of Spanish Metastatic Breast Cancer Association (AECMM).
As mentioned Dr. Blanca Cantosfrom the Oncology Department of Puerta del Hierro-Majadahonda University Hospital“is 30% of early breast cancer may be metastaticwhich makes the disease worse.”
Diseases that “change your life”
Gemma Rodriguez he is 47 years oldand mother of two children y He was diagnosed with primary cancer in late 2014.
“When a breast cancer patient receives the news Metastases all change dramatically because the disease becomes incurable and with life expectancy among others 5 years. I was very scared. Most of us First we had breast cancer and we have received medical treatment, radiotherapy or surgery,” Gema Rodríguez tells us.
Breast cancer research. / Archive
After a few very difficult months or years, and many physical, mental, and emotional consequences which may not go away, they tell us that It is impossible to go back to your “old life”..
- The fact that it is metastatic”they bind you to the hospital for the rest of your life“. “The only way we have to do it survive es switching from one treatment to another when it stops working, and this keeps you in constant fear.
When he became famous in 2014, he was a A year and a half of sick leave. Then he returned, but 2017 he was diagnosed with a disease for the first time metastasis y he had to stop working forever.
The need for psychological support for the patient: “you always think it’s the last time”
Receiving a diagnosis of metastatic breast cancer involves a lot of stress. Although there are ways to help, the disease is serious and incurable.
The Dr. Blanca Cantos emphasizes the importance of establishing a trusting relationship between doctor and patient: “It’s important to trust oncologist and that they understand the emotional needs that accompany the diagnosis of these conditions. The values are Psychological support plays an important role in the change of treatment”.
And, on the part of the patient, “the disease it makes you constantly afraid and anxious about the results. It’s not just about you, it’s about your entire environment. We need more emotional supportthere are not enough. Medicine they always make ups and downsyou can’t plan ahead. “You want to continue to be there for your family, but it’s very difficult.”
You want to keep being close to you, but you can’t help but think that every special moment is “your last time”
Some of the main needs of patients are the urgent and constant lack of new drugs. Dr. Cantos says that in Spain, although there are legal remedies, government policies delay access to patients: “It is important that the drug comes as soon as possible, since every new method represents an opportunity for patients who are already tired of other drugs.”
Psychological support in this disease is important and one of the priorities of AECMM. / Shutterstock
These delays can have a significant impact on patients’ quality of life and chances of survival. For all these reasons, the vice president of AECMM requests:
- “Great cooperation with all the donors involved in the financing of the new aid to make the process faster and more transparent and to change the deadlines to 180 days established by European law.” Time which, for them, “is the greatest enemy.”
Diagnosis and treatment progress: how does it work for the patient?
He disease process metastatic breast cancer it can be difficult.
They are often needed biopsy (removal of cells for further investigation) of metastases to confirm their presence. Although there is much to explore, In recent years there has been significant progress in your medicine.
About four weeks can pass when the disease is suspected to be confirmed.
- “Los bad results What medicine is sometimes needed very difficult to cope withregardless of all medicine or care we should try to reduce it. They slow down and stabilize your life. It is important that patients different social care groupsto be able to see the patient enoughand what they can do additional enhancements to other special things when needed,” explains the patient.
The results cause unemploymentwa disability and even more dependent conditions. Not only does it affect the patient, but it affects your whole family to him social and economic impact.
In Spain, approximately 35,312 new breast cancers were diagnosed in 2023 / FERRAN NADEU
As for the treatment, the oncologist confirms that “new treatments are expected has made it possible to increase patient survival y reduce side effects associated with chemotherapy.
Some of these developments include:
Gema, for him, is in front of the sixth line of support (each line means a different treatment). “Unfortunately there is no single cure. You are using options to treat you and It comes when the time is up. Yo I’m on number 6 and I didn’t want to ask how many I have left.“.
Types of breast cancer
- Luminal A breast cancer: positive hormone receptors, slow growth and good prognosis. They respond well to physical therapy.
- Luminal B breast cancer: more aggressive than luminal A, it is possible to overexpress HER2 (a protein that promotes the rapid growth of breast cancer cells). It requires medical treatment and chemotherapy.
- HER2 breast cancer: Overexpression of HER2, aggressive, but effective drugs such as monoclonal antibodies.
- Non-triangular breast cancer: it does not have hormone receptors or HER2, is very aggressive and has limited treatment options.
- Inflammatory breast cancer: an aggressive type that causes redness and inflammation of the skin of the breast.
- Metastatic breast cancer: Advanced cancer that has spread to other parts of the body. Treatment aims to improve quality of life.
- Ductal carcinoma in situ (CDIS): non-invasive (non-invasive) cancer in the ducts of the breast. Prognosis as good as timely treatment.
- Lobular carcinoma in situ (CLIS): It is not harmful, but it increases the risk of developing breast cancer.
- Invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC): The most common type of cancer that starts in the veins and spreads to the breast tissue.
- Invasive lobular carcinoma (CLI): originates from the lobules of the breast and spreads to the surrounding tissue.
Regarding the times known in these services, “the main obstacle we suffer from is the big one delay since it was approved by the European Medicines Agency until your payment is approved in the National Health System so that every patient receives them in the hospital,” Mr. Rodríguez Recio tells us.
“As the vice-president of the organization, I am asking for more cooperation from all the sponsors involved in the financing of the new treatment so that the process is quick and transparent and that the deadlines are changed to 180 days established by European law. We also want that once approved, these new treatments it will be available to all patients in all hospitals in all autonomous regions,” says Gema, since time “is the biggest enemy.”
The importance of making metastatic breast cancer visible
The Spanish Association of Metastatic Breast Cancer (AECMM) works to give form to this reality they often forget.
In accordance with the industry Daiichi Sankyo y AstraZenecathey have launched a campaign #laMquefalta to make people aware of the importance of plus “M” for metastatic breast cancer discussion.
The “laMquefalta” campaign wants to show this “reality”. / AECMM
Cities such as Madrid, Málaga and Las Palmas de Gran Canaria have put capital letters without the “M” in their names, to show interest in this silent battle that affects so many people. According to Pilar Fernandezbreast cancer patient and president of AECMM,”It is important for people to know the facts about this tumor and that patients feel the support and compassion of their environment.
“You are not alone. Let yourself be cared for and trust the health professionals what we have in Spain,” emphasizes Gema, who is a clear example that we can fight this disease.
