Treatments against breast cancer save lives but leave some side effects that cause pain, neuropathy, fatigue or anxiety in women. Increasingly individualized therapies and multidisciplinary teams that provide comprehensive care, in addition to a healthy lifestyle, contribute to the well-being of patients.
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From left to right: Emilia Jiménez, patient; oncologists Elena García, from the Morales Messeguer Hospital; and Manuel Ruíz-Borrego, and Fernando Henao, co-coordinators of the 15th GEICAM Symposium in Seville. Photo provided
The quality of life in breast cancer is one of the main concerns of women to face their day to day and this was confirmed in the Conference for Patients with Breast Cancer organized by the GEICAM Breast Cancer Research Group within the framework of its 15th International Symposium, which is held from March 22 to 24 in Seville.
Patients, oncologists and other experts shared a session for more than two hours in which the benefit of exercise for breast cancer was also discussed, a tumor with a cure rate of 80%, although 1 in 8 women will suffer from it in some point in your life.
Every year in Spain there are about 35,000 diagnoses of breast cancer and 1 in 100 are men.
Knowledge of the biology of the tumor has made it possible to distinguish different subtypes and advance in innovative therapeutic strategies that are increasingly personalized and that rule out chemotherapy in all cases, or hormonal therapies that stop possible relapse.
But the side effects are still there: chronic fatigue, joint pain, the so-called chemical fog that affects memory, neuropathy or sensitivity, and accentuated tingling in the hands and feet or anxiety.
“The quality of life is the set of things that gives us well-being at all levels,” says the Oncologist Elena García, from the Morales Meseguer Hospital in Murcia and member of GEICAMwho recognizes that it would be necessary to better attend to these day-to-day obstacles suffered by women.
Although the survival benefit of treatments “beats toxicity by a landslide,” says Dr. Elena García, “we have to think more about preserving that quality of life, which is an important prognostic factor.”
He Dr. Manuel Ruiz Borrego, co-coordinator of the symposium held in Seville, member of the GEICAM Board of Directors and head of the Breast Cancer unit at the Virgen del Rocío Hospital in Sevilleconsiders it necessary to make self-criticism and recognizes that the time they dedicate to consultations in public health is “limited” to attend to a complex disease.
“We suffered a menopause, lymphedema, chronic fatigue, joint and bone pain… Will I be the same again? I think not”, asks Ángela, one of the patients who participates in this event.
She and other affected people were especially interested in questioning why there is not more research on these side effects that affect the quality of life of those affected by breast cancer.
The oncologist points out that advances in research have also softened the toxicities of therapies. “By applying the correct treatments to each case, we avoid more toxicity”, he points out.
“The intensity of the treatments has been de-escalated,” corroborates Dr. Elena García, who insists that healthy habits, especially exercise, can help reverse these sequelae.
Comprehensive care to improve the quality of life in breast cancer
María Luis Villafranca, patient and president of Rosae, breast cancer association of Valdepeñas (Ciudad Real)considers that in order to address the quality of life of those affected, more resources and different specialists are needed in public health to provide comprehensive care.
Dr. Elena García responds that it is necessary to promote multidisciplinary committees, create menopause units, “triple the number of oncologists” and have gynecologists, nutritionists and psychologists.
For Dr. Ruíz Borrego, it is necessary to practice “more as a doctor” and not so much as an administrator and a nurse, for which he considers the figure of nursing and psycho-oncologist necessary.
Physical exercise, yes or yes
Mediterranean diet and regular physical exercise during and after breast cancer treatments are the pillars of a good quality of life.
“Strength and aerobic exercise is recommended. It is beneficial for the quality of life, to tolerate the treatments, for anxiety and depression…”, he points out. María Alonso, coordinator of oncology physical exercise programs at GEICAM.
And some of the participants corroborated this by commenting that they walk daily, that they practice Nordic walking and even rowing on the Guadalquivir river as it passes through Seville.
Those who practice rowing are part of the research project “Lions of the Guadalquivir”as explained Juan Gavala, professor at the Faculty of Educational Sciences of the University of Seville when considering it not only a sport, but a philosophy of life.
This initiative corroborated that exercise in a canoe improves the physical condition of women both in flexibility and strength, but also in resistance and improves heart rate and lowers blood pressure, in addition to providing psychological benefits by sharing experiences and enjoying the fresh air.
“From Medicine, years are added to life and from sport life to years”, concludes the university researcher.
