The study highlights that 67 percent are afraid of a relapse
MADRID, 15 Oct. (EUROPA PRESS) –
73 percent of breast cancer survivors admit to being afraid that someone in their family may have cancer, while 67 percent say they are afraid of a relapse, according to the study ‘Needs and quality of life of cancer survivors. of breast’, carried out by the Cancer Observatory and which was presented this Tuesday in Madrid by the Spanish Association against Cancer (AECC).
“We have confirmed that women live with fear, which is probably the most important finding that we have found in this document. Furthermore, fear crystallizes in the personal and family sphere, since 1 in 7 women has frequent worry about that a member of your family is diagnosed with cancer,” said the head of the Cancer Observatory, Belén Fernández during the presentation of the study within the framework of World Breast Cancer Day, which is celebrated on October 19.
Thus, the researcher of the Association at the University of Navarra Clinic, Rafael Martínez, has explained that the percentage of recurrences depends greatly on the type of breast cancer and the situation at the time of diagnosis. “There is no patient who has zero risk, which is why fear continues to exist over the years,” Martínez highlighted.
So that there is less chance of relapse, the expert has advised to be “very scrupulous with maintenance treatments.” “This reduces, but does not eliminate, the risk of relapse. You must also be very scrupulous in the reviews, even if years have passed,” he added.
In this sense, breast cancer survivor María Ferrer, who participated in the presentation of the study, has assured that, in her case, the fear has continued over the years. “The fear does not disappear because you know that you can relapse. Doctors do everything possible to prevent it from happening, but it is not guaranteed,” he highlighted.
64% NEED PSYCHOLOGICAL ATTENTION
1,293 women diagnosed with breast cancer and who are free of the disease after completing active treatment participated in the study.
According to data from the Association, which during 2023 treated 18,340 women with breast cancer, 64 percent needed psychological care, 19 percent of the total due to anxiety and stress. In addition, 42 percent required social care, 10 percent of the total for issues related to Social Security benefits.
Similarly, 19 percent of women needed health care, such as nutrition counseling, physical exercise, speech therapy or physical therapy.
“Women experience ups and downs of emotions, which include fear or anguish. They have to live with it. In addition, the side effects usually generate consequences for patients,” said the psychologist from the Spanish Association Against Cancer, Ana Monroy. .
MORE THAN HALF SHOW PAIN, FATIGUE AND SEXUALITY PROBLEMS
Among the main physical problems that have been asked about in the research, 46 percent of patients claim to regularly feel pain and 50 percent fatigue. In addition, 50 percent acknowledge having persistent cognitive impairment, which translates into deterioration in memory, learning ability, concentration, reasoning or attention.
Regarding emotional discomfort, half of the participants claim to feel worried about their personal image and appearance. Likewise, more than half report having sexual problems: 45.6 percent have felt bothered by being unable to have sexual relations; 48 percent have felt dissatisfied with sexual life, and 55.1 percent have frequently avoided sexual activity.
ALMOST A THIRD HAVE HAD ECONOMIC PROBLEMS
Regarding the economic-labor level, about a third (29.6%) have had financial problems due to the disease and 24 percent have had to leave their job as a consequence.
68 percent of the active women surveyed consider that the disease has meant a stoppage in their professional career or has limited their job opportunities: 2 out of 3 have not felt the necessary support from their bosses and colleagues, and 64 percent has had some impediment in doing his job.
Once treatment is completed and discharged, 24 percent of survivors say they have been forced to stop working as a result of their cancer. 16 percent of survivors have some degree of disability as a result of the cancer.
RESEARCH TO ACHIEVE 70 PERCENT SURVIVAL
Breast cancer is the most common tumor in women worldwide. In Spain, according to the AECC, 35,312 women were diagnosed with breast cancer in 2023. Therefore, the Association’s objective is to achieve 70 percent survival in 2030, within the framework of the ‘Everyone against cancer’ initiative. ‘.
For the AECC, research is “crucial”, which is why it has allocated 22.89 million euros in 92 projects in order to find new drugs or treatments for patients, understand the causes of metastasis, avoid the problem of recurrences, as well as improving the reality of breast cancer patients and survivors.
