Time to Count People with Metastatic Breast Cancer

Finding a way to have people living with metastatic breast cancer consistently counted on our cancer registries is a step closer to reality.

The Time to Count People with Metastatic Breast Cancer – A Way Forward report outlines a roadmap to collecting and reporting cancer stage and recurrence data.

If we don’t know how many people are living with metastatic breast cancer in Australia, then we can’t plan to adequately meet their health care needs.

To find a solution to this problem, BCNA hosted a roundtable of leading data and cancer experts in Canberra in August 2023.

The report from that roundtable provides an evidence-base for future investment as well as a roadmap that aligns to the new Australian Cancer Plan’s objectives.

The key message is that data must be viewed as an asset to be leveraged, rather than a risk to be managed.

Other recommendations of the report include:

• Forming an Australian Cancer Data alliance to help lead and implement national minimum standards for data collection.
• Increasing the funding of resources and staffing at state and territory cancer registries where needed.
• Improving the ability of cancer registries to consistently collect stage and recurrence data with improved data linkages with health providers.

BCNA’s Director Policy, Advocacy and Support Services Vicki Durston said capturing metastatic breast cancer data will significantly improve outcomes and lives.

"We know that those living with metastatic disease have significant unmet needs, due in part to the fact that they are not visible to health systems and policymakers," she said.

"Having access to this data will improve outcomes across the entire spectrum of cancer care, from clinical trials for new and innovative treatments, to supportive care."

Read the full Time to Count People with Metastatic Breast Cancer report.