Largest-ever global survey of 1,273 women in 12 countries reveals women with advanced breast cancer feel left out of the breast cancer movement
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Largest-ever global survey of 1,273 women in 12 countries reveals women with
advanced breast cancer feel left out of the breast cancer movement
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* Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women worldwide, yet survey
confirms many women living with advanced form of disease feel
isolated[1],[2]
* Three in four women surveyed say they actively seek out
information[2],yetmore than half say the information they find does not
address their needs[2]
* "Count Us, Know Us, Join Us" survey gives a voice to the 250,000 women
living with advanced breast cancer around the world[3],[4]
Basel, May 21, 2013 - A new global survey sponsored by Novartis Oncology of
nearly 1,300 women in 12 countries finds that despite breast cancer being the
most common cancer in women worldwide, women living with advanced or metastatic
breast cancer feel isolated and left out of the broader breast cancer movement.
The global "Count Us, Know Us, Join Us" (Count Us) survey shows that nearly two-
thirds of women with advanced breast cancer (ABC) feel like no one understands
what they are going through. In fact, four of 10 women surveyed feel isolated
from the broader breast cancer awareness movement, which focuses primarily on
early detection, prevention and possible cure[2].
"When first diagnosed with breast cancer, women are instantly part of a vibrant
breast cancer support community," said Maira Caleffi, MD, President of Brazilian
Federation of Philanthropic Institutions to Support Breast Health (FEMAMA). "But
when their cancer metastasizes or if they are first diagnosed with metastatic
breast cancer, it is no longer about becoming a survivor; it's about surviving."
In early stage breast cancer (stages I and II), cancer cells are confined to the
breast or immediate lymph node area; the focus for the patient is to become a
"survivor." When cancer metastasizes, treatments that worked at the beginning
may lose effectiveness over time[5]. The focus shifts to surviving, despite the
anxiety and uncertainty that comes with disease progression and ongoing
treatments[6]. The survey showed that these patients crave resources and support
that are specific to their needs.
Along with key members of the global advocacy community, Novartis Oncology has
created resources, support and education tailored to the ABC community on the
newly launched www.advancedbreastcancercommunity.org. The website is a hub of
resources for people living with ABC as well as their caregivers, supporters and
loved ones. Such resources include a step-by-step guide to creating a personal
plan after being diagnosed, videos that offer first-person accounts of life with
ABC and lists of advocacy organizations, periodicals and medical journals that
focus on the advanced forms of breast cancer.
The global survey also found that more than three in four women (77%) say they
actively seek out information on their own; however, nearly half (45%) say it is
hard to find information about ABC, and more than half (55%) say the information
that is available does not address their needs[2]. This is likely because most
of the information available is applicable only to those with early stage breast
cancer.
In addition to lack of information and feelings of isolation, many women (41%)
find that support from friends and family wanes over time[2]. Interestingly, all
of this may motivate some women to create their own support networks. Nearly
half of women (45%) say that being diagnosed with ABC has led them to volunteer
or give back to the ABC community[2].
"These survey results give great insight into our global community and the
reality of living with metastatic breast cancer, an incurable and deadly
disease," said CJ (Dian) M. Corneliussen-James, Director of Advocacy for
METAvivor Research and Support, Inc., a nonprofit advanced breast cancer
organization. "It is my hope that this ignites a movement of public recognition,
understanding and outreach so that the isolation and rejection our community so
often encounters might become a thing of the past."
About the "Count Us, Know Us, Join Us" Survey
The Count Us survey was conducted online by Harris Interactive on behalf of
Novartis Oncology between October 8, 2012 and March 15, 2013. A total of 1,273
women diagnosed with ABC (that is, breast cancer that has spread beyond the
breast to other parts of the body) completed the survey in 12 countries: US
(n=349), Canada (n=55), Mexico (n=102), Brazil (n= 100), Argentina (n=100), UK
(n=66), Germany (n=100), Russia (n=100), India (n=100), Taiwan (n=99), Hong Kong
(n=52) and Lebanon (n=50). Total sample data are not weighted and therefore
representative only of the individuals interviewed. A global post-weight was
applied to ensure all countries received an equal weight in the global and
regional data. No estimates of error can be computed.
Additional Count Us Survey findings:
Support and Information from Healthcare Providers:
- Most women (80%) say they get enough support from their oncologists[2].
- Three in four women (76%) would like their healthcare professional to
address their emotional needs[2].
- One in three women (35%) say it is important to make information about
decreased interest in sexual activity available to women with ABC[2].
Relationships and Marriage:
- Two in five women (40%) say their relationship with their spouse or
partner has been negatively impacted a lot or a moderate amount by their
ABC diagnosis[2].
- However, nearly all women (87%) say they receive sufficient support from
their spouse/partner[2].
- Many women (41%) find that support from friends and family wanes over
time[2].
Workplace:
- More than half of employed women (57%) say most or all of their co-workers
know about their ABC[2].
- About seven in ten women (69%) say their ABC has interfered with their
ability to work such that they suffered a loss of personal income[2].
About Count Us, Know Us, Join Us
The mission of Count Us, Know Us, Join Us is to recognize those living with ABC,
their caregivers, supporters, friends and family members. This is a community
that has different physical and emotional needs from those living with early
stage breast cancer. Novartis Oncology has collaborated with leading members of
the global advocacy community to create the program and corresponding website -
www.advancedbreastcancercommunity.org.
About advanced breast cancer
Advanced breast cancer comprises metastatic breast cancer (stage IV) and locally
advanced breast cancer (stage III)[7]. Metastatic breast cancer is the most
serious form of the disease and occurs when the cancer has spread beyond the
breast to other parts of the body, such as the brain, bones or liver[7]. Locally
advanced breast cancer occurs when the cancer has spread to lymph nodes and/or
other tissue in the area of the breast, but not to distant sites in the body[7].
Disclaimer
This press release contains expressed or implied forward-looking statements,
including statements that can be identified by terminology such as "may,"
"might," "hope," "mission," or similar expressions. Such forward-looking
statements reflect the current views of the Group regarding future events, and
involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause
actual results to be materially different from any future results expressed or
implied by such statements. These expectations could be affected by, among other
things, risks and factors referred to in the Risk Factors section of Novartis
AG's current Form 20-F on file with the US Securities and Exchange Commission.
Novartis is providing the information in this press release as of this date and
does not undertake any obligation to update it in the future.
About Novartis
Novartis provides innovative healthcare solutions that address the evolving
needs of patients and societies. Headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, Novartis
offers a diversified portfolio to best meet these needs: innovative medicines,
eye care, cost-saving generic pharmaceuticals, preventive vaccines and
diagnostic tools, over-the-counter and animal health products. Novartis is the
only global company with leading positions in these areas. In 2012, the Group
achieved net sales of USD 56.7 billion, while R&D throughout the Group amounted
to approximately USD 9.3 billion (USD 9.1 billion excluding impairment and
amortization charges). Novartis Group companies employ approximately 129,000
full-time-equivalent associates and operate in more than 140 countries around
the world. For more information, please visit http://www.novartis.com.
Novartis is on Twitter. Sign up to follow (at)Novartis at
http://twitter.com/novartis.
References
[1] Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October. World Health Organization.
Available at
http://www.who.int/cancer/events/breast_cancer_month/en/index.html.
Accessed on March 15, 2012.
[2] Count Us, Know Us, Join Us Advanced Breast Cancer Survey, Harris
Interactive, sponsored by Novartis Oncology (2013).
[3] Buckley N, Isherwood A. Breast Cancer. Decision Resources. March
2011:1-301.
[4] Forouzanfar MH, Foreman KJ, Delossantos AM, et a;. Breast and cervical
cancer in 187 countries between 1980 and 2010: a systematic analysis.
Lancet. October 2011;378(9801):1461-84.
[5] Gonzalez-Angulo AM, Morales-Vasquez F, Hortobagyi GN. Overview of
Resistance to Systemic Therapy in Patients with Breast Cancer. In: Madame
Curie Bioscience Database [Internet]. Austin (TX): Landes Bioscience;
2000-. Available at http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK6306. Accessed on
March 15, 2013.
[6] MBC Advocacy Working Group. Bridging gaps, expanding outreach: Metastatic
Breast Cancer Advocacy Working Group consensus report. The Breast.
2009; 18:273-5.
[7] American Cancer Society. How do you determine the stage of breast cancer?
Available at
http://www.cancer.org/cancer/breastcancer/detailedguide/breast-cancer-
staging. Accessed on October 9, 2012.
# # #
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Datum: 21.05.2013 - 07:15 Uhr
Sprache: Deutsch
News-ID 261753
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