- Metastatic breast cancer is one of the deadliest there is because 77.7% of women who suffer from it die in five years or less.
- The novel therapy reduced the risk of death by 36% and decreased the risk of disease progression by 64%.
- Experts say that the approval of this novel therapy opens a new era in patient care in Mexico.
Tumors are responsible for almost 10 million deaths each year worldwide. Throughout the last decades the trend has increased exponentially to become a global public health problem. In the case of women, one of the deadliest is the metastatic breast cancer because it spreads to other parts of the body such as the bones, lungs, brain, or liver.
The most dangerous type of breast cancer
In this sense, this neoplasm is described as one of the most dangerous because it represents the most advanced stage of the disease. In fact, it is estimated that 77.7 percent of women who suffer from it in our country die in five years or less.
With this in mind, it is of great importance to promote the female self-exploration and methods such as mammograms. In this way, cancer can be identified from its earliest stages. If that happens, there are more chances of achieving the patient’s salvation.
New pharmacological treatment available in Mexico
However, in the case of women who have already been diagnosed, it is necessary to offer alternatives for their treatment. For the same, the Federal Commission for the Protection against Sanitary Risks (Cofepris) has approved AstraZeneca’s innovative drug-conjugated antibody therapy to care for people with HER2-positive and HER2-low advanced and/or metastatic breast cancer. It is indicated for women who have already received prior treatment, which begins a new era in the approach to this condition in Mexico.
“This news is highly relevant to the community living with metastatic breast cancer. Therapy has arrived to mark a before and after in the way of treating patients. In the trials carried out, it showed unprecedented efficacy by reducing the risk of death and progression of the disease. We are sure that it will provide new opportunities and greater life expectancy to those who present it”, indicated Dr. Alberto Hegewisch, medical director of AstraZeneca Mexico.
The therapy was recognized and applauded last year at the Congress of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) for the results of the phase III DESTINY-Breast03 trial. There it showed a 36% reduction in the risk of death and a 64% risk of disease progression. In addition, the possibility of living without the disease increased four times.
Now that the monotherapy has been approved by Cofepris, it will begin the logistical process to introduce it into the country. In this way, it is a matter of months for it to be available and within the reach of all women.
Also read:
Misión Contra Reloj, the initiative to combat metastatic breast cancer in Mexico
14 Things Your Metastatic Breast Cancer Patients Want To Know
77.7% of patients with metastatic breast cancer in Mexico will die in less than 5 years