The Ministry of Health focuses on long survivorship care for breast cancer patients

Long-term survivorship care to protect breast cancer patients is one of the new features included in the latest update of the Cancer Strategy of the National Health System (SNS), formulated in 2021.

The strategy incorporates the establishment of an individualised follow-up plan, put in place once treatment and initial follow-up have been completed, as well as follow-up circuits for people no longer with disease who, having completed their treatment and initial follow-up, will be guaranteed their coordinated and protocolised monitoring through primary and specialised care.

Early diagnosis

According to the latest available estimates, cancer mortality in Spain in 2020 was one of the lowest in the European Union. However, the high incidence and survival rate of this type of cancer means that its prevalence is far higher than that of the second most common tumour in women (colorectal cancer).

Despite the good results in terms of survival, and due to its high impact, research, prevention, diagnosis and treatment of this cancer are a priority in cancer plans.

Early diagnosis of this cancer through screening programmes must remain a key element, along with other measures such as rapid diagnostic strategies and ensuring access to effective therapeutic measures.

In fact, the breast cancer screening programme is included in the Common Portfolio of Services of the NHS and is carried out in all Spanish regions and cities, with a coverage of over 90% of the target population.

In addition, and regarding the care model, the strategy promotes the establishment of rapid diagnosis channels between primary care and hospital care in the event of signs or symptoms of suspected oncological pathology of the most common types of tumour, and especially breast cancer.

€13 million in research between 2018 and 2021

For its part, in the period 2018-2021, the Ministry of Science and Innovation allocated nearly €13 million to breast cancer research projects, through competitive calls from the State Research Agency (AEI) and the Strategic Action in Health of the Carlos III Health Institute (ISCIII).

The Minister for Science and Innovation, Diana Morant, has underlined her firm commitment to cancer research and reiterated that science is the great hope against this disease.

Breast cancer is one of the most prevalent tumours and the one in which most progress has been made in recent decades thanks to improvements in prevention, diagnosis, treatment and care made possible by research.

The Ministry, through the National Epidemiology Centre (CNE) of the ISCIII, has a specific line of research on the genetic and molecular epidemiology of breast cancer, carried out within the Cancer and Environmental Epidemiology Unit.

Likewise, the Biomedical Research Network Centre (CIBERONC) has a specific programme on breast cancer and the National Cancer Research Centre (CNIO) has a Breast Cancer Research Unit, as part of its Clinical Research Programme.

Non official translation