A new study that provides estimates of people living with metastatic breast cancer, also known as secondary breast cancer, will help “overlooked patients” in Northern Ireland.
The research, funded by Cancer Focus Northern Ireland, estimates there are around 250 patients diagnosed annually with metastatic breast cancer in the north, while almost 1,000 patients are currently living with the condition.
Northern Ireland is amongst the first in the world to produce estimates of people living with the condition, which 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 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.
But 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 the Northern Ireland Cancer Registry (NICR), he 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,” said Dr Bennett.
“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.”
Richard Spratt, chief executive of Cancer Focus NI said the “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,” he said.
“I would like to acknowledge people 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.”
