Análisis y recomendaciones para la mejora de la gestión clínica y la atención del cáncer de mama metastásico en España

Abstract

Metastatic breast cancer (MBC) is the first cause of cancer-related mortality among women and poses major challenges in clinical practice and for persons with the disease and their families. With the collaboration of a wide panel of medical oncologists and patient representatives, this project analysed the resources (planning tools, cancer registries), healthcare processes (diagnosis, treatment, palliative care) and related processes (psychosocial care, healthy lifestyles, role of patient associations) in the approach to MBC in the Spanish healthcare setting. The work carried out allowed identification a series of areas for improvement and a proposal for 42 recommendations aimed at improving healthcare quality and the care of patients with MBC and their carers organized in the following areas: cancer registries, liaison between healthcare levels, diagnosis of metastasis, communication and interpersonal skills, drug access, clinical trials, the role of nurses in MBC, palliative care, psychosocial care, and promotion of healthy lifestyles. These recommendations, drafted from an integrated perspective and based on the characteristics of the Spanish healthcare setting, provide a springboard for healthcare improvement and could be of strong value to other healthcare settings facing the same challenges in the approach to MBC.