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 anew large-scale, pan-European survey announced today at the firstHER2 State-of-the-Art Conference, the European public is splitbetween those who feel there is an adequate amount of breastcancer information available (45 percent) and those who feelthere is not enough (42 percent). Yet, one out of three Europeanwomen (33 percent) never perform or do not know how to performbreast self-examinations. This demonstrates the need to expandbreast cancer education and increase disease awareness in Europe. European women have a one in ten lifetime risk of developingbreast cancer; this year alone, 150,000 women in Europe will dieof the disease(*). There are variations in survival for womenwith breast cancer across Europe and statistics show thatawareness of important developments in breast cancer research andtreatment is low across the board. In particular, more than half(52 percent) of the people surveyed said there have been majoradvances in the treatment of breast cancer in recent years;however, three out of four (76 percent) were not aware thatdiagnostic tests for guiding treatment exist. "Despite breast cancer being one of the most frequent causesof death among women and despite its rising global incidence,there are still major gaps in awareness and in translating theavailable scientific evidence into practice," said Nora Kearney,past-president of the European Oncology Nursing Society and HER2State-of-the-Art Conference presenter. "These survey results showthat there is an urgent need for continued patient education andoutreach. Effective communication is key to increasing breastcancer awareness and potentially saving lives." In response to this lack of awareness, Stella McCartney, leaddesigner at the Parisian fashion house Chloe, has joinedinternational efforts to motivate women to become proactive aboutbreast health. "I want to encourage all women across the globe tobe informed. With awareness comes knowledge and with knowledgecomes power," said Ms. McCartney when discussing her role inadvocating breast cancer detection and treatment at the HER2State-of-the-Art Conference. First Meeting of Its Kind The HER2 State-of-the-Art Conference brought together leadingoncologists and representatives from breast cancer patientadvocacy groups to address advances in a new and important avenuefor breast cancer treatment -- the development of HER2-targetedtherapies. HER2 (human epidermal growth factor receptor-2) is aprotein produced by a specific gene with cancer-causingpotential. Scientists have found that, at times, the gene thatproduces HER2 is amplified, resulting in multiple copies of thegene and the consequent overproduction of HER2. Excess amounts ofHER2 lead to the uncontrolled cellular growth that is thehallmark of cancer. Nearly one out of every three women with breast canceroverproduces, or overexpresses, HER2. In Europe alone, more than500,000 women are newly diagnosed each year with breast cancer;therefore, approximately 170,000 of these women will overproducethe HER2 protein. Excess HER2 typically indicates a fasterdeveloping and more serious disease; however, specific testscurrently exist to identify patients who are HER2-positive andmay help physicians guide treatment. "Pinpointing the role of HER2 in breast cancer is an importantresearch advance with significant implications for the patientcommunity. HER2 status can indicate patient survival time andpredict responses to certain therapies, allowing physicians totailor treatment regimens," said Michael Untch, Head of theGynecologic Oncology Research and Hormone Receptor Laboratory andHead of Breast Cancer Services in the Department of Obstetricsand 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 resourceproviding up-to-date information about HER2 and HER2-positivebreast cancer -- addresses the growing consumer reliance on theInternet for access to important health information. The web siteis dedicated to educating the public about the significance ofHER2 status and explaining HER2's role in breast cancer, andprovides contact information for breast cancer organisationsworld-wide. Survey Methodology The survey, conducted between August and October 1999 by NOPHealthcare, interviewed a total of approximately 5,000 members ofthe general public aged 15 and older in each of five countries:France, Germany, Italy, Spain and England. Participants weresurveyed by means of a random computer assisted personalinterview (CAPI) omnibus survey. (*) Europa Donna, The Breast Cancer Coalition, Facts otsOriginal 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 FleishmanHillard, +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 bepublished under the "CTK" slug. Protext is a commercial serviceproviding distribution of press releases from clients, who areidentified in the text of Protext reports and who bear fullresponsibility for their contents.

PROTEXT