A BRIGHTER FUTURE
The other good news when it comes to breast cancer is that ongoing research is helping women by developing kinder, more effective treatments and greater support and understanding.
TREATMENT ADVANCES
Adjuvant treatment is often used after initial treatments (surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy) to reduce the risk of cancer coming back. Examples include hormone therapy, immunotherapy (which works to stimulate or assist your body’s own immune system in fighting off cancer), and targeted monoclonal antibody therapy. A well-known example of the latter is Herceptin, which blocks the action of a protein called human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) in women with so-called HER2 positive breast cancer.
We’re also seeing examples of pharmaceutical companies partnering with research groups and academic networks to look at potentially ground-breaking treatments. For instance, in June, the drug company Sanofi announced a partnership with the not-for-profit organisation for academic breast research groups, Breast International Group (BIG). They’re looking at a study for women with oestrogen receptor-positive (ER+) cancer who have had to stop standard adjuvant treatment with an aromatase
inhibitor prematurely and who have high risk of disease recurrence.
One standard adjuvant treatment is with tamoxifen. The partnership will be looking at how well people respond to tamoxifen compared to a new drug, Amcenestrant, which works by breaking down the oestrogen receptor to stop oestrogen from fuelling tumour growth.
HER2 HOPE
About one in 15 women with breast cancer has Her2-positive breast cancer. In April, NHS England approved a new combined treatment called PHESGO (a combination of Herceptin and another monoclonal antibody), which can be used alongside chemotherapy or on its own, for women with Her2-positive cancer. The injection takes five minutes to prepare and administer, rather than two standard infusions of the same drugs taking up to two and a half hours. About 3,600 women a year are expected to benefit.
BRCA BOOST
Although fewer than one in 100 women carry an abnormal BRCA gene, about
one in 10 women who develops breast cancer has one. The figure is even higher, between 10% and 30%, among women under 60 diagnosed with ‘triple-negative’ breast cancer (cancers that do not have receptors for oestrogen, progesterone or HER2). In this case, a specialist may recommend genetic counselling and testing.
There has been positive news for women with BRCA 1 or 2 mutations with HER2 negative early breast cancer who had completed surgery and standard adjuvant chemotherapy. In June, a study looking at Olaparib as adjuvant treatment showed a 42% relative reduction in the risk of cancer recurrence compared to women in the placebo arm of the trial. In other words, for every 11 women receiving the treatment, one could expect to be recurrence-free after three years as a result of the treatment.
We’re seeing research into ground-breaking treatments
VITAL NEW FUNDING
Around 35,000 UK women are living with metastatic breast cancer, which has spread to other parts of the body. Until now, there has been no national picture of metastatic breast cancer, quantifying the experiences of these women and supporting the NHS to design services for them. NHS England announced in May that it was funding the National Metastatic Breast Cancer Audit, which should really help to improve services.
CBT FOR SIDE-EFFECTS
Among the most troubling side-effects of the hormone treatment given to many women with breast cancer are menopausal hot flushes and sweats. New research, funded by Breast Cancer Now, has shown Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) given in group sessions by breast cancer nurses can almost halve the impact of these side-effects, reduce their frequency and improve sleep, anxiety and mood. As a huge advocate of talking therapy, I would love to see these face-to-face group sessions become more widespread and accessible.