Closing the gap: policy brief explores opportunities to reduce inequalities in metastatic breast cancer care
30 October 2024
The Health Policy Partnership has published the first in a set of policy briefs that explore opportunities and provide policy recommendations to make metastatic breast cancer care more equitable.
Reducing inequalities in metastatic breast cancer care: an overview gives an outline of the current landscape of metastatic breast cancer care, considers how existing inequalities in the provision and standard of care could be addressed, and identifies priority areas for policymakers to focus on.
Three subsequent policy briefs, due to be published in November, will examine in greater detail how policymakers and health system decision-makers can:
- address structural and systemic barriers to care
- ensure access to appropriate care along the pathway
- improve patient experience, involvement and empowerment.
Metastatic breast cancer – also known as secondary, stage IV or advanced breast cancer – affects millions of people around the world and is responsible for 90% of breast-cancer-related deaths. Although most cases of metastatic breast cancer are incurable, emerging treatment options can enable many people with the condition to live longer and fulfilling lives.
Breast cancer policy in many countries currently focuses on earlier stages of the disease, neglecting the experience of people whose cancer is more advanced.
Recent work from the Lancet Breast Cancer Commission and the World Health Organization’s Global Breast Cancer Initiative has raised the profile of metastatic breast cancer. We hope this set of policy briefs can build on this work, providing solid recommendations for policy action.
To find out more about this project, please visit the project page.
