55 Background: From The Health of Women (HOW) Study, we found that participants living with metastatic breast cancer (MBC) had a considerably diminished quality of life (QoL) compared to those with less advanced breast cancer. When faced with MBC, managing and minimizing collateral damage (CD) resulting from sequential and often continuous treatments is crucial to improving QoL. The aim of the MBCCD Project was to characterize the unique experience of MBC to identify and address potential areas of need in this underserved population. Methods: Findings from the MBCCD survey (515 MBC respondents) were presented and discussed at a two-day in-person Think Tank with our Advocate Task Force–10 women and men living with MBC–and 28 provider-survivors. Provider-survivors—consisting of healthcare providers who also had been treated for cancer—represented the full spectrum of providers that MBC patients may need, including nurses, oncologists, and surgeons, to physical therapists, psychologists, social workers, palliative care specialists, and faith leaders. The group was selected to address issues from both perspectives of care to ensure that recommendations would fully address patients’ needs and could be easily implemented in the current health care delivery system. Results: The Think Tank provided multiple opportunities to discuss the survey findings and develop recommendations on ways to educate providers about the needs of MBC patients and help alleviate the CD patients experience. A wide variety of unmet needs were discussed, including increased access to clinical trials, centralized resources for financial assistance, addressing sensitive or non-discussed issues, such as fertility and sexuality, and expanding awareness of palliative care programs. We are in the process of finalizing the recommendations and will disseminate widely to providers, MBC patients, and caregivers. Conclusions: Having a panel of people seated simultaneously on both sides of the cancer diagnosis and treatment conversation resulted in recommendations that did not shy away from addressing complex issues while simultaneously having a high probability for dissemination and implementation within the health care system.
International guidelines for management of metastatic breast cancer (MBC) from the European School of Oncology (ESO)–MBC Task Force: Surveillance, staging, and evaluation of patients with early-stage and metastatic breast cancer