Dana-Farber's Heather Parsons, MD, MPH, discusses a new study showing liquid biopsy could reliably determine whether a patient's breast cancer is HER2-positive or --negative.
At the San Antonio breast cancer symposium. This year, I will be presenting data collected in collaboration with the Young Survival Coalition, evaluating young breast cancer survivors perceptions and preferences regarding extended ovarian function suppression or ofs beyond five years. We also aim to gauge participant interest in a potential future clinical trial to assess the role of extended ofs among this population. Around 600 breast cancer survivors who are currently receiving ofs for adjuvant endocrine treatment completed an online survey. It is evident that breast cancer survivors and their providers are already considering incorporating ofs beyond five years. Despite the lack of current data, around 40% of women reported discussing ofs use beyond five years with their provider and that their provider had recommended it around 65% of women would take more than five years of ofs if it lowered their chance of breast cancer recurrence. We also identified current ofs concerns among this sample noting that side effects were the most pertinent concern followed by the high cost of medication inconvenience of injection visits and finally, the pain of injection. Importantly, the vast majority of participants were interested in a potential future clinical trial involving extended ofs use beyond five years to determine if this use re reduces the risk of breast cancer. Recurrence women who were interested in the clinical trial were less likely to be concerned with the high cost of medication and also less likely to take this medication beyond five years. If it only led to a 1 to 2% breast cancer risk reduction. These results suggest that future clinical trials evaluating the potential benefits and risks of long term of use among breast cancer survivors are needed and likely feasible.
