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It is estimated that one in seven women and one in 700 men develop breast cancer in Australia in their lifetime.ⁱ In New Zealand, around one in nine women are diagnosed during their lifetime, while about 25 men develop breast cancer each year.ⁱⁱ Key risk factors include smoking, alcohol consumption, obesity, a family history of the disease, age and gene mutations. The importance of self-checking has been increasingly emphasised by healthcare professionals and awareness campaigns in recent years.

In Australia, an optimal care pathway for people with breast cancer has been established and endorsed by Cancer Australia, the former National Cancer Expert Reference Group, and all states and territories.ⁱⁱⁱ The steps are as follows:

• Prevention and early detection
• Presentation, initial investigation and referral (to be seen within 2 weeks)
• Diagnosis, staging and treatment planning (within 2 weeks of specialist consultation)
• Treatment (within 4-8 weeks depending on modality recommended)
• Care after initial treatment and recovery 
• Managing recurrent, residual or metastatic disease 
• End-of-life care 

Improving Detection and Treatment

There are several factors that can contribute to delayed breast cancer treatment, which must be addressed to improve survival rates further. For example, in Queensland, longer diagnosis-to-treatment intervals have been associated with limited access to private health care, lower income levels, surgery being recommended as the first treatment option, and rural living.^iv These challenges highlight the importance of addressing systemic barriers to ensure timely diagnosis and treatment in both urban and rural settings across the country. There have also been calls for improved breast cancer screening programs to support early detection and treatment.^v

When it comes to treating the disease, common options are systemic therapy and radiotherapy.^vi These treatments, however, can cause various adverse side effects that are challenging for patients to manage, including cardiotoxicity, and fatigue, alopecia, muscle pain and neurocognitive dysfunction, respectively.^vii  

The most common treatment option, associated with the highest survival rate, is surgery^vi – especially when combined with adjunctive therapies to support surgeons in identifying and removing target tissue with precision, pre-operative tissue-marking can be invaluable. This approach helps preserve as much healthy surrounding tissue as possible. The Vigeo BiomarC Breast Tissue Marker, available from Getz Healthcare, provides a sterile, MRI-compatible radiographic marking solution for this purpose. Designed for ease of use, it is available as an individually packaged unit or in a pre-loaded delivery system that integrates with biopsy devices.

A Brighter Future for Patients with Breast Cancer

As with all types of cancer, ongoing research and clinical innovation continue to lead to new treatment options and management techniques. The goal remains to detect and treat cancer earlier to improve outcomes and preserve the quality of life for survivors. With advancements in detection and treatment, there is optimism for an even brighter future for patients facing this disease.

ⁱ Australian Breast Cancer Research. Awareness and Statistics. https://australianbreastcancer.org.au/about-breast-cancer/awareness-and-statistics/ [Accessed December 2024]
ⁱⁱ Breast Cancer Cure. Aotearoa New Zealand has one of the highest incidence rates of breast cancer in the world. https://www.breastcancercure.org.nz/the-facts?psafe_param=1&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiAu8W6BhC-ARIsACEQoDDTOzraRDIt15cMUPnRBO0Mzd9_lkmBn0Vv8YXAiNSe9RLmZNXuWsMaAnwUEALw_wcB [Accessed December 2024]
iii Optimal care pathway for people with breast cancer. Second edition. https://www.cancer.org.au/assets/pdf/breast-cancer-optimal-cancer-care-pathway [Accessed December 2024]
^iv Retell JD, Cameron JK, Aitken JF, Youl P, Pyke C, Dunn J, Chambers S, Baade PD. Individual and area level factors associated with the breast cancer diagnostic-treatment interval in Queensland, Australia. Breast Cancer Res Treat. 2024 Feb;203(3):575-586. doi: 10.1007/s10549-023-07134-4. Epub 2023 Nov 6. PMID: 37930491; PMCID: PMC10805972.
^v Nickson, Carolyn & Velentzis, Louiza & Brennan, Patrick & Mann, G & Houssami, Nehmat. (2019). Improving breast cancer screening in Australia: a public health perspective. Public Health Research & Practice. 29. 10.17061/phrp2921911.
^vi Li M, Roder D, D'Onise K, Walters D, Farshid G, Buckley E, Karapetis C, Joshi R, Price T, Townsend A, Miller C, Currow D, Powell K, Buranyi-Trevarton D, Olver I. Female breast cancer treatment and survival in South Australia: Results from linked health data. Eur J Cancer Care (Engl). 2021 Sep;30(5):e13451. doi: 10.1111/ecc.13451. Epub 2021 Mar 28. PMID: 33779005; PMCID: PMC8518966.
^vii Burguin A, Diorio C, Durocher F. Breast Cancer Treatments: Updates and New Challenges. J Pers Med. 2021 Aug 19;11(8):808. doi: 10.3390/jpm11080808. PMID: 34442452; PMCID: PMC8399130.

Disclaimer:
The content of this blog is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. Healthcare professionals should always be consulted for personalised medical guidance before pursuing any diagnosis, treatment, or medical procedure.