Adnkronos Rome, October 9 (Adnkronos Salute) – "New therapies have changed the entire treatment paradigm for various types of breast cancer, transforming them from fatal diseases to ones that can become chronic in the vast majority of cases." This was stated by Saverio Cinieri, director of Medical Oncology and the Breast Unit at the Antonio Perrino Hospital in Brindisi and president of the AIOM Foundation – Italian Association of Medical Oncology, at the presentation meeting – today in Rome – of the "Patients, up to a certain point" campaign, dedicated to metastatic breast cancer.
Presented just days before the fifth National Metastatic Breast Cancer Awareness Day (MBC), celebrated on October 13, the campaign is organized by Europa Donna Italia with the patronage of Aiom, Fondazione Aiom, Senonetwork – the network of Italian breast cancer centers – and the patient associations Andos Onlus, Ropi – Rete oncologica singoli Italia (Italian Oncology Patient Network), and Oltre il nastro rosa.
New therapies also help patients live not only longer but also have a better quality of life, as Cinieri explains: "Many of today's molecules target specific molecules, thus killing only diseased cells, thus avoiding, in some cases, the classic side effects of chemotherapy."
The transition of metastatic breast cancer (MSC) from a fatal disease to a chronic one presents clinicians and institutions with the need "to support women experiencing chronic disease along the fortunately long journey of life. We must share important information with them," Cinieri continues, "for example, related to lifestyle, and we must be available to support them in managing family relationships and children." "The age of breast cancer diagnosis has decreased, and therefore we must ensure that it receives great attention. At my institution, for example, we recently opened a nutrition clinic, with specialists who are highly skilled at managing the nutrition of breast cancer patients, both in adjuvant and metastatic settings. This is just one of the many things we can and must do," he concludes.