Breast cancer is the leading cancer among women in France, in the European Union and in the United States as well. In 2023, 60,000 new cases will be diagnosed. This figure has remained fairly stable over the last few years, however, treatments have improved a lot, so we treat it better and mortality is falling. But in this care pathway, socio-economic inequalities also play an important role, both in prevention, diagnosis and in survival of the disease.
What is the influence of inequalities on the quality of life of breast cancer patients?
To understand the evolution of quality of life throughout the care pathway, these scientists relied on data from a large French study called CANTO. One section specifically concerns quality of life. In this new study, Nearly 6,000 of these women were followed for two years. Based on a questionnaire, an overall quality of life indicator is linked to the socio-economic situation, which results in a score. Results, at diagnosis, the inequalities in quality of life between the two poles, very advantaged and very disadvantaged, is 7. It increases to 11 during treatment and remains at 10 two years after diagnosis. Explanations of these results with Gwenn Mentvielle, Inserm research director at Gustave Roussy in the “Molecular predictors and new targets in oncology” team and she is the latest author of this study published in le Journal of Clinical Oncol
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