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new breast cancer treatment recommendations for canadians: 'no patient’s outcome should depend on their postal code'
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breast cancer canada, along with the real canadian breast cancer alliance, is dedicated to ensuring that all evidence is easily accessible for clinicians, policymakers, and researchers.
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canadians who develop breast cancer in their lifetimes have a chance at better care thanks to the latest recommendations for national standards regarding staging, surgery and treatment. the recommendations were developed by a group of leading breast cancer experts from the real canadian breast cancer alliance and breast cancer canada to ensure equitable care for all canadians.
without these standards, canadians are subject to differing policies regarding staging and treatment depending on where they live, as each province held its own recommendations.
“national recommendations are about more than treatment. it’s about equity,” said dr. mita manna, chair of real canadian breast cancer alliance, in a press release. “no patient’s outcome should depend on their postal code.”
the new recommended guidelines set a benchmark for care that’s based on the latest research and clinical advancements, allowing all canadians with breast cancer the chance to take advantage of breakthrough and potentially disease-progression-altering forms of care, from staging all the way through treatment.
the canadian public shows support for the guidelines, with as many as 92 per cent stating they would find evidence-based interventions developed by canada’s top breast cancer specialists trustworthy, according to a national poll done by breast cancer canada. these equitable recommendations pave the way for a new future of breast cancer in canada, allowing patients to feel better about the care they’re receiving.
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“until now, canada has had no unified national standard for breast cancer staging and treatment, resulting in significant differences in care plans and patient outcomes depending on where someone lives,” kimberly carson, ceo of breast cancer canada, added in the press release. “that is why we established real canadian breast cancer alliance in 2023, to create comprehensive national consensus recommendations that ensure every patient benefits from the latest research and clinical advancements.”
the recommendations and why they matter
within the new countrywide guidelines, several areas are covered to improve care across the board. staging, for example, is recommended to be uniform across provinces to ensure greater consistency in diagnosis. by developing a baseline clinical staging, the starting point of someone’s breast cancer journey will not differ depending on where they were diagnosed.
the national consensus recommendations also cover breast cancer subtypes, which may behave and respond differently to various types of treatments. for example, triple-negative breast cancer (tnbc) and her2+ breast cancer tend to grow and spread more quickly than other variations, whereas other forms can be slower growing, such as ductal carcinoma.
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the data behind the changes come from canadian experts and international conferences such as emo, asco and the san antonio breast cancer symposium, all of which are geared toward generating new evidence for clinical practice. the guidelines ensure that patients receive the care they need for the type they have, as well as what stage, first and foremost. essentially, the gaps currently existing in the breast cancer care landscape will be bridged by these new guidelines.
“breast cancer canada is committed to providing the right answers for every major breast cancer subtype,” carson shared in the press release. “research only creates impact when it reaches patients. through real alliance, we are turning the best global evidence into national solutions, creating clear standards that support better access, improved outcomes and more equitable care for every canadian facing breast cancer.”
breast cancer canada, along with the real canadian breast cancer alliance, is dedicated to ensuring that all evidence is easily accessible for clinicians, policymakers, and researchers so that anyone who develops breast cancer in canada receives top-of-the-line care “that reflects the latest science and the realities patients face every day.”
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