Is Anyone Paying Attention to Metastatic Breast Cancer?

For a very long time now, I have been following what is going on in the world of breast cancer research and treatment and have been very encouraged about the advancements made in early detection and treatment. However, I have seen no news items regarding metastatic breast cancer, a very large and under-served community of breast cancer survivors. Therefore, it was with great interest that I recently tuned in to a webinar that was being sponsored by Susan G. Komen Greater Kansas City titled “An Update on Metastasis Research in Breast Cancer”. Dr. Danny Welch and Dr. Nikki Cheng from The University of Kansas Cancer Center facilitated the webinar.

This research is important to every person who has or will ever have breast cancer. For those who have had breast cancer, more than one-third are already metastatic or will develop metastases. But, just as importantly, those who are yet to get breast cancer will realize a huge benefit from unlocking the answers about metastases.

As I am not a scientist, I can’t begin to adequately present the research that these two doctors have been doing. However, I do want to share some very important information that I did learn. More than 90% of cancer morbidity and mortality is associated with metastasis but 92% of the National Cancer Institute and European grants do not even mention the word metastasis. Further, less than 5% of funding focuses on metastasis.

I also learned that breast cancer and metastasis’ incidences vary by race. These differences are based upon how our bodies have evolved and changed over generations as a need to adapt to the climate changes that exist from our countries of origin to where we find ourselves today. However, such information raises more questions than provides answers.

While it may seem that there are more questions than answers at this point, I don’t really want to create that illusion. Great strides have already been made to reach the point to where research has advanced today. But, more needs to be done. In the presentation, the following key next steps were provided:

• Earlier detection
• Determine the basis for conversion from benign to malignant
• Determine basis for metastasis formation in different tissues
• Identify which patients will (not) develop metastases
• Identify approaches to more effectively treat metastases
• Reduce the stigma associated with metastases and, most importantly, all of these objectives require investment into basic research on metastasis

This research is important to every person who has or will ever have breast cancer. For those who have had breast cancer, more than one-third are already metastatic or will develop metastases. But, just as importantly, those who are yet to get breast cancer will realize a huge benefit from unlocking the answers about metastases.

If the keys to metastases can be determined, the treatment of each breast cancer patient can be determined on the basis of who will or will not develop metastases. If it can be determined that I, as an example, will not develop metastases, then I would not need to need to have a mastectomy or double mastectomy as treatment for the tumor that I have developed. I would not need to undergo chemotherapy or radiation to improve my chances of eradicating potential cancer in the future. The benefits are endless but we must increase the information and research in order to make this happen and that means to increase the funding.

Oh, and by the way, I also discovered that Susan G. Komen is one of several organizations that is providing the research funding to Dr. Welch and Dr. Cheng for their work and on behalf of all of us, I would like to extend my gratitude to them and all organizations who are supporting metastatic breast cancer research.