NEWS
NORTHERN IRELAND AMONGST THE FIRST IN THE WORLD TO PRODUCE ESTIMATES OF PEOPLE LIVING WITH METASTATIC BREAST CANCER
The team involved in the study, pictured left to right: Helen Mitchell, Northern Ireland Cancer Registry; Dr Damien Bennett, Northern Ireland Cancer Registry; Ann McBrien, Metastatic Breast Cancer Patient who has contributed to the study; Richard Spratt, CancerFocus NI and Sinead Hawkins, Northern Ireland Cancer Registry.
Northern Ireland has become one of the first regions globally to estimate the number of people living with metastatic breast cancer, marking a major step in cancer data collection and patient advocacy.
A new study funded by Cancer Focus Northern Ireland estimates there are around 250 patients diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer annually in Northern Ireland, while almost 1,000 patients are currently living with the disease. Metastatic breast cancer is incurable and occurs when breast cancer spreads to another part of the body such as the liver, lungs, brain or bones. The average survival rate is two to three years for metastatic breast cancer patients.
Crucially, patients with secondary breast cancer are not routinely counted in Cancer Registries worldwide, leaving this group of patients feeling ‘overlooked’ and ‘forgotten’.
It is hoped that this landmark study of Northern Ireland’s patients will help policy makers improve services for this patient group.
Led by Dr. Damien Bennett, Director of Northern Ireland Cancer Registry (NICR), who said the study will provide new information on people living with the disease in Northern Ireland, “Although we have good data on first breast cancers, we do not have the same data on secondary breast cancers, which come back after the first diagnosis. This was a real gap in our knowledge which has implications for patients. Now, for the first time in the UK, Ireland and indeed in most parts of the world, we have produced estimates of new and existing cases of metastatic breast cancer for a whole country using population-based cancer registry data.”
Cancer Focus NI, Chief Executive Richard Spratt praised the study as a pivotal moment for patient advocacy, recognising the contributions of campaigners Ann McBrien and the late Julie Anne Lillis saying “This groundbreaking research represents a pivotal moment for metastatic breast cancer patients. We are
immensely proud to have funded a study that recognises these overlooked patients and which directly addresses a critical gap in cancer data and intelligence. I would like to acknowledge those who were instrumental in advocating for this research, notably Ann McBrien and also Julie Anne Lillis who sadly is no longer with us.
“This landmark study is not just about numbers – it's about giving voice to those who have been forgotten and to those patients who have gone before us, such as Julie Anne. This is only the first step towards transforming care and support for metastatic breast cancer patients across Northern Ireland.”
Stuart McIntosh, consultant breast surgeon and Professor of Surgical Oncology at the Patrick G Johnston Centre of Cancer Research at Queens University said, “The initiative is a fine example of patients driving forward change that will have benefits for many now and in the future.”
pharmacyinfocus.com 3
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