Pan-European Survey Uncovers Major Need for Breast Cancer Education / Survey of 24,400 People Across Europe Reveals Behaviours Do Not Match Reported Awareness

MONTREUX, Switzerland (PROTEXT) - According to results of a new large-scale, pan-European survey announced today at the first HER2 State-of-the-Art Conference, the European public is split between those who feel there is an adequate amount of breast cancer information available (45 percent) and those who feel there is not enough (42 percent). Yet, one out of three European women (33 percent) never perform or do not know how to perform breast self-examinations. This demonstrates the need to expand breast cancer education and increase disease awareness in Europe. European women have a one in ten lifetime risk of developing breast cancer; this year alone, 150,000 women in Europe will die of the disease(*). There are variations in survival for women with breast cancer across Europe and statistics show that awareness of important developments in breast cancer research and treatment is low across the board. In particular, more than half (52 percent) of the people surveyed said there have been major advances in the treatment of breast cancer in recent years; however, three out of four (76 percent) were not aware that diagnostic tests for guiding treatment exist. "Despite breast cancer being one of the most frequent causes of death among women and despite its rising global incidence, there are still major gaps in awareness and in translating the available scientific evidence into practice," said Nora Kearney, past-president of the European Oncology Nursing Society and HER2 State-of-the-Art Conference presenter. "These survey results show that there is an urgent need for continued patient education and outreach. Effective communication is key to increasing breast cancer awareness and potentially saving lives." In response to this lack of awareness, Stella McCartney, lead designer at the Parisian fashion house Chloe, has joined international efforts to motivate women to become proactive about breast health. "I want to encourage all women across the globe to be informed. With awareness comes knowledge and with knowledge comes power," said Ms. McCartney when discussing her role in advocating breast cancer detection and treatment at the HER2 State-of-the-Art Conference. First Meeting of Its Kind The HER2 State-of-the-Art Conference brought together leading oncologists and representatives from breast cancer patient advocacy groups to address advances in a new and important avenue for breast cancer treatment -- the development of HER2-targeted therapies. HER2 (human epidermal growth factor receptor-2) is a protein produced by a specific gene with cancer-causing potential. Scientists have found that, at times, the gene that produces HER2 is amplified, resulting in multiple copies of the gene and the consequent overproduction of HER2. Excess amounts of HER2 lead to the uncontrolled cellular growth that is the hallmark of cancer. Nearly one out of every three women with breast cancer overproduces, or overexpresses, HER2. In Europe alone, more than 500,000 women are newly diagnosed each year with breast cancer; therefore, approximately 170,000 of these women will overproduce the HER2 protein. Excess HER2 typically indicates a faster developing and more serious disease; however, specific tests currently exist to identify patients who are HER2-positive and may help physicians guide treatment. "Pinpointing the role of HER2 in breast cancer is an important research advance with significant implications for the patient community. HER2 status can indicate patient survival time and predict responses to certain therapies, allowing physicians to tailor treatment regimens," said Michael Untch, Head of the Gynecologic Oncology Research and Hormone Receptor Laboratory and Head of Breast Cancer Services in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Ludwig Maximilians University Munich- Grosshadern. www.her2status.com Launched at the HER2 State-of-the-Art Conference, www.her2status.com -- the first global Internet resource providing up-to-date information about HER2 and HER2-positive breast cancer -- addresses the growing consumer reliance on the Internet for access to important health information. The web site is dedicated to educating the public about the significance of HER2 status and explaining HER2's role in breast cancer, and provides contact information for breast cancer organisations world-wide. Survey Methodology The survey, conducted between August and October 1999 by NOP Healthcare, interviewed a total of approximately 5,000 members of the general public aged 15 and older in each of five countries: France, Germany, Italy, Spain and England. Participants were surveyed by means of a random computer assisted personal interview (CAPI) omnibus survey. (*) Europa Donna, The Breast Cancer Coalition, Facts ots Original Text Service: Fleishman Hillard Inc. Internet: http://www.newsaktuell.de Contact: Robin Gallon, +44-1235-554- 627, or r.gallon@synapse-uk.com; or Sonia Kimm of Fleishman Hillard, +1-212-453-2433, or kimms@fleishman.com Subscribers please note that material bearing the slug "PROTEXT" is not part of CTK's news service and is not to be published under the "CTK" slug. Protext is a commercial service providing distribution of press releases from clients, who are identified in the text of Protext reports and who bear full responsibility for their contents. PROTEXT