We need to change our response to Advanced / Metastatic Breast Cancer – Burke

Fine Gael Senator for Cork North Central, Colm Burke, has said that we need to change how we deal with Advanced/Metastatic Breast cancer in order to assist these patients to live longer. Senator Burke was speaking following a briefing which he facilitated in Leinster House today, bringing together oncology experts, breast cancer patients and Oireachtas Members.

“A new report – The Global Status of Metastatic Breast Cancer: A 2005-2015 Decade Report – looks at the challenges and issues facing metastatic breast cancer patients. Whilst great progress has been made in dealing with Early Breast Cancer (eBC), the same cannot be said of Metastatic Breast Cancer. Metastatic Breast Cancer is an advanced form of cancer and regrettably early detection does not help survival for these patients where the average survival for women is 2-3 years.

“Advances in medicines to deal with Metastatic Breast Cancer are being developed all of the time, and it is important that Irish patients benefit from these advances. It is essential therefore that the Oncology experts are listened to and their advice is taken on board.”

“While all of the health providers have a responsibility, so too do the manufacturers of the lifesaving drugs. They must not use the distress of patients and their families as a bargaining tool in determining price.”