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| Many more women now beating early breast cancer | |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Mairead MacKenzie was diagnosed with breast cancer 20 years ago, aged 48 | Mairead MacKenzie was diagnosed with breast cancer 20 years ago, aged 48 |
| Most women with early breast cancer now beat the disease thanks to huge improvements in treatments in recent years, a BMJ analysis has found. | Most women with early breast cancer now beat the disease thanks to huge improvements in treatments in recent years, a BMJ analysis has found. |
| Their risk of dying within five years of diagnosis is estimated to be below 3% - down from 14% in the 1990s. | Their risk of dying within five years of diagnosis is estimated to be below 3% - down from 14% in the 1990s. |
| Cancer Research UK says this offers "reassurance" to many women but warns more highly-trained staff are needed to meet rising demand. | Cancer Research UK says this offers "reassurance" to many women but warns more highly-trained staff are needed to meet rising demand. |
| A plan for NHS staffing in England has been repeatedly delayed. | A plan for NHS staffing in England has been repeatedly delayed. |
| Government ministers say this workforce strategy is due shortly. | Government ministers say this workforce strategy is due shortly. |
| 'Very scared' | 'Very scared' |
| Mairead MacKenzie, 69, from Surrey, was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2002, after finding a swelling under one arm. | Mairead MacKenzie, 69, from Surrey, was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2002, after finding a swelling under one arm. |
| She remembers feeling "very scared" because she had no idea of her chances of surviving. | She remembers feeling "very scared" because she had no idea of her chances of surviving. |
| "But I knew it had to be bad," she says. | "But I knew it had to be bad," she says. |
| Mairead started chemotherapy treatment, which uses drugs to kill off cancer cells, within days of seeing her GP. | Mairead started chemotherapy treatment, which uses drugs to kill off cancer cells, within days of seeing her GP. |
| This was followed by a mastectomy (removal of one breast), breast reconstruction and radiotherapy treatment before seven years on the drug tamoxifen to reduce the chances of the cancer coming back. | This was followed by a mastectomy (removal of one breast), breast reconstruction and radiotherapy treatment before seven years on the drug tamoxifen to reduce the chances of the cancer coming back. |
| "It felt like they were throwing the book at me," she says. | "It felt like they were throwing the book at me," she says. |
| Mairead is now involved in a patient-advocate group that helps scientists understand patients' experiences. | Mairead is now involved in a patient-advocate group that helps scientists understand patients' experiences. |
| She is grateful for the care she received - and the gardening, walking and travelling she has been able to do in the intervening years. | She is grateful for the care she received - and the gardening, walking and travelling she has been able to do in the intervening years. |
| "Good, clear communication about prognosis can make a vast difference to a patient's quality of life, and how they can cope with things," Mairead says. | "Good, clear communication about prognosis can make a vast difference to a patient's quality of life, and how they can cope with things," Mairead says. |
| Breast screening looks for cancers that are too small to see or feel - it's offered only to age groups most at risk | Breast screening looks for cancers that are too small to see or feel - it's offered only to age groups most at risk |
| The BMJ analysis tracked more than half a million women with early, invasive breast cancer - mostly stage one and two - diagnosed in the 1990s, 2000s and between 2010 and 2015. | The BMJ analysis tracked more than half a million women with early, invasive breast cancer - mostly stage one and two - diagnosed in the 1990s, 2000s and between 2010 and 2015. |
| It found the prognosis for nearly all women "has improved substantially since the 1990s", with most becoming long-term cancer survivors. | It found the prognosis for nearly all women "has improved substantially since the 1990s", with most becoming long-term cancer survivors. |
| And based on those trends, the researchers behind the Oxford University-led study say women diagnosed today also have a much lower risk. | |
| "That's good news - and reassuring for clinicians and patients," oncologist and lead researcher Prof Carolyn Taylor says. | "That's good news - and reassuring for clinicians and patients," oncologist and lead researcher Prof Carolyn Taylor says. |
| For two-thirds of women diagnosed recently, their five-year risk of death from breast cancer was less than 3%, but for one in 20 women it was 20% or higher. | |
| Prognosis depends on someone's age, type of breast cancer and underlying health, among other factors. | |
| Treatment advances | Treatment advances |
| Surgery cures most breast cancers - but if some disease remains, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and endocrine therapy can reduce the long-term risk of dying. | Surgery cures most breast cancers - but if some disease remains, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and endocrine therapy can reduce the long-term risk of dying. |
| Prof Taylor points to advances in treatment, including: | Prof Taylor points to advances in treatment, including: |
| more targeted therapies for early breast cancer, such as Herceptin | more targeted therapies for early breast cancer, such as Herceptin |
| new treatments, such as hormonal therapies | new treatments, such as hormonal therapies |
| more precise and effective radiotherapy | more precise and effective radiotherapy |
| Prof Taylor says more women are being screened for the cancer than 20 years ago and there is greater awareness of the symptoms. | Prof Taylor says more women are being screened for the cancer than 20 years ago and there is greater awareness of the symptoms. |
| In time, research will look at the survival rates of patients diagnosed during the Covid pandemic - but there is no data on this yet. | In time, research will look at the survival rates of patients diagnosed during the Covid pandemic - but there is no data on this yet. |
| Cancer Research UK evidence and implementation director Naser Turabi says Covid was "very disruptive" but accepts "we were already on a worsening trend before the pandemic". | Cancer Research UK evidence and implementation director Naser Turabi says Covid was "very disruptive" but accepts "we were already on a worsening trend before the pandemic". |
| The difference now is "we are seeing diagnostic and treatment delays" and "highly fragile services". | The difference now is "we are seeing diagnostic and treatment delays" and "highly fragile services". |
| "We need more highly trained staff, such as radiologists and oncologists, to cope with increased demand and an ageing population," Mr Turabi adds. | "We need more highly trained staff, such as radiologists and oncologists, to cope with increased demand and an ageing population," Mr Turabi adds. |
| It is a view recently echoed by radiologists who say the NHS is struggling to provide safe and effective care for all cancer patients. | It is a view recently echoed by radiologists who say the NHS is struggling to provide safe and effective care for all cancer patients. |
| 'Progress unravelling' | 'Progress unravelling' |
| In England, Scotland and Northern Ireland, cancer treatment should start within 62 days of an urgent referral by a GP. | In England, Scotland and Northern Ireland, cancer treatment should start within 62 days of an urgent referral by a GP. |
| But only 61% of patients in England are currently starting treatment in that time - against a target of 85% - and in Northern Ireland, just 37%. | But only 61% of patients in England are currently starting treatment in that time - against a target of 85% - and in Northern Ireland, just 37%. |
| The charity Breast Cancer Now says significant progress has been made on breast cancer research over the decades but it is "not a done deal". | The charity Breast Cancer Now says significant progress has been made on breast cancer research over the decades but it is "not a done deal". |
| Chief executive Baroness Morgan says: "11,500 people a year in the UK die from the disease - and despite the tireless work of NHS staff, we know many women are waiting far too long for a diagnosis and are experiencing anxious delays to their treatment. | Chief executive Baroness Morgan says: "11,500 people a year in the UK die from the disease - and despite the tireless work of NHS staff, we know many women are waiting far too long for a diagnosis and are experiencing anxious delays to their treatment. |
| "Without urgent action from governments across the UK to get breast cancer services back on track, we risk seeing these decades of progress unravelling." | "Without urgent action from governments across the UK to get breast cancer services back on track, we risk seeing these decades of progress unravelling." |
| In rare cases, men can also be diagnosed with breast cancer but this study did not look at male trends. | |
| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| Chemotherapy | Chemotherapy |
| Medicine | Medicine |
| Breast cancer | Breast cancer |
| Cancer | Cancer |