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. 2011;6(1):35-41.
doi: 10.1159/000324455. Epub 2011 Feb 15.

Tumor-Specific Systemic Treatment in Advanced Breast Cancer - How Long does it Make Sense?

Rachel Wuerstlein  1 , Ingo Bauerfeind
Affiliations

Tumor-Specific Systemic Treatment in Advanced Breast Cancer - How Long does it Make Sense?

Rachel Wuerstlein et al. Breast Care (Basel). 2011.

Abstract
in English, German

SUMMARY: Metastatic breast cancer (MBC) is a chronic and incurable disease which can be kept steady for a long time with continuous oncologic therapy. There are various treatment options. Disease-free as well as overall survival were prolonged in many pharmaceutical studies. The therapist focuses on these oncologic parameters as well as the patient's quality of life. One central point of the communication between doctor and patient is the prediction by the medical team of how long to continue oncologic therapy and when to start palliative medicine in terms of best palliative care. Treatment options currently available for MBC as well as the importance of this difficult communication between the involved parties are pointed out. The end of tumor-specific oncologic therapy does not necessarily mean the end of therapeutic measures for the individual patient.

Zusammenfassung: Das metastasierte Mammakarzinom ist eine chronische und unheilbare Erkrankung, die unter fortdauernder onkologischer Therapie lange stabil gehalten werden kann. Die Therapieentscheidungsmöglichkeiten sind vielfältig. Zahlreiche Medikamentenstudien konnten das krankheitsfreie Überleben und auch das Gesamtüberleben verlängern. Neben diesen onkologischen Parametern steht jedoch auch die Lebensqualität der Patientin im Mittelpunkt therapeutischer Bemühungen. Die Prognoseabschätzung der behandelnden Ärzte und der Betreuungsteams bleibt ein Kernpunkt der Arzt-Patienten-Gespräche bei der Entscheidung zur Fortsetzung onkologischer Systemtherapien oder der Einleitung palliativmedizinischer symptomorientierter Therapien im Sinne von Best Palliative Care. Neben den heute zur Verfügung stehenden Behandlungsoptionen beim MBC wird die Bedeutung dieser schwierigen Kommunikationssituation für die Beteiligten aufgezeigt. Das Ende der tumorspezifischen onkologischen Therapie bedeutet nicht das Beenden therapeutischer Maßnahmen für die individuelle Patientin.

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