Struggles of Advanced Breast Cancer Patients in Receiving Necessary Treatments Due to Conflicts and Bias

In Lisbon on November 11, 2023, the Advanced Breast Cancer Seventh International Consensus Conference (ABC 7) took place, bringing together experts to discuss the care and treatment of advanced breast cancer patients.

One of the key issues addressed was the importance of involving older, frail patients in treatment decision-making, taking their preferences into account. Doctors were encouraged to consider reducing doses of anti-cancer drugs that induce immunosuppression, and/or increasing the intervals between doses for HIV positive patients.

The conference also shone a light on the challenges faced by patients with advanced breast cancer who are living with HIV, as they have worse survival rates and are more likely to develop infections and adverse reactions to cancer drugs. Professor Eric Winer, the Honorary Chair of ABC 7, emphasised that patients with metastatic cancer will live for years and should be reviewed individually and treated according to their needs, with consideration of their preferences and their oncologists' input.

An innovative solution proposed to facilitate the sharing of medical information was digital medical cards. Dr. Fatima Cardoso, the chair of the ABC 7 conference, suggested that these cards could help patients with advanced breast cancer living with HIV, as well as other vulnerable groups, such as pregnant women, patients with concomitant HIV infection, and frail, elderly patients.

However, no direct information on a European Commission project focused on digital medical cards for advanced breast cancer patients in conflict zones is available from 2025 search results. Confidentiality concerns in such digital health initiatives typically revolve around GDPR compliance, secure data sharing, and ethical patient data management.

The care of these patients should be managed by a multidisciplinary team, including an oncologist and an HIV specialist. The conference also highlighted examples of prejudice towards elderly, very frail patients, and those with serious mental illnesses or HIV.

The experts reviewed the newest treatments and issued new guidelines for three sub-types of breast cancer: ER positive/HER2 negative, HER2 positive, and triple-negative disease. They also updated the definition of endocrine sensitivity or resistance.

Furthermore, the conference called for an end to discrimination against patients with serious mental illnesses and an end to discriminatory practices that can deny patients access to intensive care units based solely on their diagnosis of advanced breast cancer (ABC). Dr. Larry Norton, an honorary chair of ABC 7, emphasized the importance of comprehensive care for patients with advanced breast cancer, including mental health considerations.

Lastly, the experts called for immediate measures to help patients fleeing war or conflict zones and their healthcare providers. They stated that war and conflict can cause major disruptions in the delivery of care for patients with advanced breast cancer.

In conclusion, the ABC 7 conference highlighted the importance of individualized care for advanced breast cancer patients, the need for digital medical cards to facilitate the sharing of medical information, and the challenges faced by patients living with HIV. The conference also emphasized the need for an end to discrimination against patients with serious mental illnesses and the importance of comprehensive care, including mental health considerations.

Struggles of Advanced Breast Cancer Patients in Receiving Necessary Treatments Due to Conflicts and Bias