New Pan-European Report Highlights Current Isolation Felt by Advanced Breast Cancer Patients

A new report, entitled MBC Radio Silence, released today highlights that people with advanced breast cancer (also known as metastatic breast cancer (MBC)), feel isolated and in need of additional support to deal with their diagnosis.[1]

Initiated and funded by Eisai Europe Ltd. with advice from pan-European and national patient associations, the report highlights data from a new survey, initiated and funded by Eisai, indicating that many people with this advanced disease are holding back in discussing their frustrations and fears with their doctor.[1] A quarter (25%) say that while they research treatment options online they feel afraid to ask questions of their doctors, and when asked how they feel about initiating conversations with their doctors regarding survival, 64% feel nervous or very uncomfortable about doing so.[1]

The MBC Radio Silence report calls for a greater focus on this advanced stage of breast cancer as a disease that is distinct from early stage breast cancer in that it can be controlled but cannot currently be cured. It highlights a need for patient-specific information on MBC for patients and for healthcare to be delivered via a consistent multidisciplinary team from the point of diagnosis.

“The resources available specifically for the needs of people with advanced disease are scarce. In the UK there is also a lot of pressure on the consultation time with your doctor, who has a lot to convey in a short time, so often it is hard for people to process it all and open up about their feelings. This can all lead to an acute sense of isolation,” commented Jean Robinson, an advanced breast cancer patient from the UK. “Overcoming common misconceptions about MBC and having the right level of information and support could make all the difference to people. I feel very strongly that we should be talking positively about living with this cancer, not dying from it, and I hope this campaign will help to achieve that.”

To coincide with this report a new campaign funded and initiated by Eisai called FurtherMore has been launched with advice from pan-European and national patient associations. FurtherMore showcases the lives of women with advanced breast cancer across the world through real and personal experiences, and celebrates what can be achieved when they get the support they need to live their life to the full.

The FurtherMore campaign calls on people with MBC, and their families, to share their own unique and inspiring stories with #FurtherMore #MBC and showcase how they are living their lives to the full.

The hope is that, through these powerful stories, advanced breast cancer will be recognised as a distinct disease separate from early stage breast cancer, and that all those affected by the disease will be empowered to go further in sharing information with their healthcare professional about how they truly wish to live out the remainder of their lives, and encourage others to do the same.

“This feeling of loneliness is key. Many patients say their relatives do not understand and they feel very isolated, so it is important that people going through that experience have access to more group support and that information is appropriate to their situation,” commented Dr Ana Casas, President & Founder, Fundación Actitud frente al Cáncer, Spain; Medical Oncologist, Virgen del Rocío University Hospital, Seville, Spain. “We hope the FurtherMore campaign will help raise awareness of metastatic breast cancer as a disease that is distinct from early stage breast cancer, in that it can be controlled but cannot currently be cured, and bring focus to the unique needs of people living with this diagnosis so that they feel able to talk openly about their hopes for the future with family, friends and their doctor.”