The Spanish Association of Metastatic Breast Cancer (AECMM) has conducted a survey revealing that only one in seven women with metastatic breast cancer knows what biomarkers are, despite their key role "in understanding the characteristics of the tumor and providing an accurate diagnosis."
"Patients need more information about our own disease to have a more active role," indicated the president of the entity, Elisenda Martínez. "We do not want to settle for a simple diagnosis, but we demand additional information about evolution, lifestyle habits, side effects, emotional support, and other aspects of living with the disease," she continued.
In this context, and although "in general," the clarity of the clinical information provided by oncologists and the ease of understanding medical language is "positively" valued, the association considers it essential for patients to feel involved "in decision-making" about their health and prognosis. With this objective, the survey has been promoted, framed within the initiative '#laMquefalta' and in which 69 women have participated.
The questionnaire, developed on the occasion of World Metastatic Breast Cancer Day, which is commemorated on October 13, and carried out with the collaboration of the Daiichi Sankyo - AstraZeneca Alliance, also reflects that 31.9 percent claim that biomarkers are familiar to them, but do not know exactly what they mean, while 8.7 percent acknowledge that they have never heard of them.
Furthermore, the report shows that 26.1 percent of respondents are unaware if these tests have been performed on them, which can be requested at different times during the care process depending on the characteristics of the tumor and its evolution. The document also highlights that 81.2 percent perceive that they have little information about the disease beyond clinical data and demand care that considers the entirety of their needs throughout the entire therapeutic journey.
"For metastatic breast cancer patients to actively participate in decisions about their disease, it is essential that they know all the possibilities available to them regarding diagnosis and treatments, including biomarker tests and the information they provide," indicated the medical oncologist at the University Hospital of the Canary Islands in Tenerife, Dr. Josefina Cruz.
In the opinion of the specialist, these markers "allow identifying certain characteristics of the tumor that may be relevant when selecting the most appropriate treatment." "Bringing this knowledge to patients does not mean turning them into experts, but providing them with the necessary tools to better understand their disease, communicate with their medical team, and participate in decisions," she stated.
Advances in molecular markers and precision medicine
Regarding scientific evolution, Dr. Belén Pérez Mies, a specialist in Pathological Anatomy at Ramón y Cajal University Hospital in Madrid, emphasized that "in breast cancer, precision medicine has been around for some time," and that currently "tumors are much better characterized, which helps guide the selection of treatment based on the molecular characteristics of each case." She also stressed that "it is not a static disease: it evolves due to its own biology and also in response to treatments" and that "thanks to research and better understanding of the disease, new molecular markers are being integrated at a rapid pace."
The survey also analyzes how patients perceive the care they receive. Although 72.5 percent claim to feel heard always or most of the time, 50.7 percent assert that different therapeutic alternatives are rarely or never presented to them to give their opinion or choose. Meanwhile, 66.7 percent indicate that the treatment options for their case were explained completely or to a large extent.
These data are framed within a pathology for which, in Spain, it is estimated that 38,318 new cases will be diagnosed in 2026 (636 more than in 2025), with between 5 and 6 percent of patients presenting metastasis from the outset. Although survival is high when the tumor is detected in early stages, the relative five-year survival among women diagnosed with metastatic disease stands at only 33.8 percent.
The general director and Head of Oncology in Spain at Daiichi Sankyo, Ana Zubeldia, has pointed out that the perception and experiences of those affected "tell us a lot about their unmet needs and the margins for improvement towards greater knowledge of the tools to classify metastatic breast cancer more accurately," and added that providing clear information about biomarkers and the value of molecular diagnosis "will help patients participate in their oncological process and know the options available to them."
Finally, the vice president of Corporate Affairs and Market Access at AstraZeneca, Marta Moreno, has stated that "after five years working alongside the #laMquefalta Movement," they continue to verify "the need to convey truthful and accessible information about metastatic breast cancer both to patients, as the survey shows, and to society as a whole."
"Therefore, from the Daiichi Sankyo - AstraZeneca Alliance, we will continue to promote initiatives that bring the reality of patients closer to society and favor a more comprehensive response to their needs, from awareness to research and addressing the pathology," she concluded.