Pfizer discovers 53pc think not enough focus placed on MBC

Pfizer’s global survey of women with metastatic breast cancer (MBC) found that over half (53 per cent) believe the disease receives too little public attention.

The company sponsored the poll which questioned 950 females living with the illness in nine countries, including the United Kingdom, France, Spain and Belgium.

Among the results that were presented at the 11th International Conference on Primary Therapy of Early Breast Cancer in St Gallen, Switzerland, it was revealed 44 per cent are afraid to talk openly about their experiences.

The study also found 53 per cent of sufferers thought there should be increased media attention of people living with MBC and a further 49 per cent stated a higher recognition of public figures with the disease would help.

Professor Lesley Fallowfield, director of Cancer Research UK Psychosocial Oncology Group at the University of Sussex, commented: “[There is a] need for more public dialogue about ? [MBC] in an effort to make women feel more included among the broader breast cancer community.”

In other news, Pfizer stopped a phase III clinical trial of Sutent after it was found to have significant benefits for aiding patients with advanced pancreatic islet cell tumours.