For someone living with metastatic breast cancer, gaps in data can mean gaps in our understanding of what they need. As Breast Cancer Awareness Month draws to a close, we are sharing the recording of our latest webinar, which explored how better data can help change that.
On 20 October, The Health Policy Partnership (HPP) brought together clinicians, researchers and patient advocates to explore a simple but important question: how can we make sure everyone with metastatic breast cancer (MBC) is counted and supported?
More people are living longer with MBC, but we don’t always have the data to understand who they are and what living with the disease is like for them. Without this information, it is harder to plan services and ensure people receive the care and support they need.
Panellists from Australia, Canada, France, Portugal and the UK explored where the biggest data gaps lie, how they could be addressed and what it will take to turn better data into better care. A clear message emerged: data are not the end goal. What matters is how they are used to improve the lives of people living with MBC.
We are grateful to our expert panellists, and to everyone who attended and contributed their questions and insights:
- Dr Fatima Cardoso, President, Advanced Breast Cancer Global Alliance; Head of Clinical Trials, Scientific Affairs and International Development in Breast Oncology, Centre Antoine Lacassagne, France
- Colleen Foran, patient representative, Canada
- Adèle Gautier, Lead, Programmes, Advanced Breast Cancer Global Alliance, Portugal
- Dr Karen Gelmon, Professor of Medicine, University of British Columbia and BC Cancer Agency, Canada
- Karen Graham, Head of Data Improvement, National Disease Registration Service, UK
- Associate Professor Sarah (Sally) Lord, Principal Research Fellow, The Daffodil Centre, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Australia
- Helena Rodi, Senior Manager, Policy and Advocacy, Breast Cancer Network Australia
- Dr Andrea Smith OAM, patient representative and Senior Research Fellow, University of Sydney, Australia
Find out more about the importance of strengthening MBC data collection.
