New guidelines on treatment of breast cancer
New guidelines have today been issued on the best practice for the diagnosis and treatment of advanced breast cancer
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Wednesday, 25, Feb 2009 12:14
New guidelines have today been issued on the best practice for the diagnosis and treatment of advanced breast cancer.
The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (Nice) claims the new guidelines will help clinicians to provide coherent and consistent care for patients with the cancer as well as ensuring equal access to services across England and Wales.
At present there are approximately 40,500 women diagnosed with breast cancer and 10,900 deaths each year across the country, making it the most common cancer affecting women.
Amongst the recommendations issued with the NICE guidelines today is the offer of endocrine therapy as the first-line treatment for the majority of patients with oestrogen receptor-positive advanced breast cancer.
A breast cancer multidisciplinary team should also assess all patients presenting with uncontrolled local disease and discuss the therapeutic options for controlling the disease and relieving symptoms, NICE suggests.
The guidelines recommend patients with a single or small number of brain metastases should also be offered surgery followed by whole brain radiotherapy, if they have a good performance status and have no or well-controlled other metastatic disease.
Professor Peter Littlejohns, clinical and public health director at Nice said in a statement: "The guideline focuses on the whole patient, not just medical treatment. This guidance will ensure that patients have the right information to allow a full discussion on what options are available.
"These are the first guidelines looking at how best to diagnose and manage advanced breast cancer and set a standard of care across the country."
John Winstanley, a consultant surgeon at Royal Bolton hospital and chair of the Guideline Development Group added it was important a diagnosis of advanced breast cancer was not seen as an immediate death sentence.
"It can be managed effectively, allowing patients to have a reasonable quality of life. This guideline pulls together the best ways to treat the cancer medically, helping relieve the symptoms and to support patients psychologically, emotionally and practically."