Florence Statement
Forging the way ahead for more research on and better
care in breast cancer
Introduction
The first European consensus on key issues in breast
cancer has today been reached by nearly 1,000 clinicians, scientists and healthcare
consumers attending a mass voting session at the 1st European Breast Cancer
Conference (EBCC-1) in Florence. The Florence Statement sets the agenda for everyone
involved in these key issues in breast cancer research, treatment, prevention and advocacy
including the three major groups and organisers of EBCC-1:
- The Breast Cancer Co-operative Group of the European
Organization for the Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC-BCCG)
- The European Society of Mastology (EUSOMA)
- Europa Donna, the European Breast Cancer Coalition
This objective-setting document will stimulate much needed
change in the field of breast cancer. EORTC-BCCG, EUSOMA and the patient-advocacy
activities of Europa Donna will work towards these goals by lobbying European governments
and mobilizing health-service providers, the scientific community and the healthcare
industry. These new actions demanded by the EBCC-1 delegates will be assessed and reviewed
in two years at EBCC-2, to be held in Brussels from 26 to 30 September, 2000.
Florence Statement
Breast cancer is the commonest cancer and the most
frequent cause of cancer death in women in every European Union country. Because of its
importance and its potentially high curability, breast cancer deserves special attention
and effort. The 1st European Breast Cancer Conference calls on the European
Parliament to devote a plenary session to breast cancer.
The Florence conference also makes the following
statements:
On research:
- Clinical trials are the mainstay for the development of
optimal treatment of breast cancer and this conference is committed to encouraging maximum
participation in clinical trials. Consumers should be fully involved at all stages in the
design and conduct of clinical trials, by clear public information, discussion with ethics
committees and increased accessibility to clinical trials.
- This conference is committed to the application of pressure
on governments, medical charities and the healthcare industry to invest more in breast
cancer research, especially into translational studies. In addition, the major European
charities are invited to co-ordinate their efforts to avoid unnecessary duplication of
research programmes in different countries and thereby release resources to underpin
European studies.
On genetic predisposition:
- Given that knowledge about inherited predisposition to
breast cancer is constantly emerging and that management options for mutation carriers are
still not proven to be of benefit, the conference resolves that genetic testing should be
undertaken in the setting of clinical research only. Such a setting needs personnel and
facilities to study further the psychological effects and clinical outcomes in those who
present for testing.
- Genetic testing represents a potential threat to the
privacy and security of women and could lead to commercial exploitation through gene
patenting. The conference therefore demands national legislation and a European directive
to protect women from personal, professional, financial or other discrimination.
On psychosocial status:
- This conference believes that the measurement of
psychosocial status should be mandatory in the assessment and management of womens
health and should not just be part of a clinical trial.
On treatment:
- This conference demands that those responsible for
organising and funding breast cancer care ensure that all women have access to fully
equipped multidisciplinary and multiprofessional breast clinics based on populations of
around 250,000.
On quality of care:
- Given the importance of the quality of surgery,
radiotherapy and chemotherapy in determining outcome, quality-assurance programmes should
become mandatory for breast cancer services to qualify for funding from healthcare
providers.
- Evidence-based multidisciplinary management guidelines
defined at national and European level with the consensus of healthcare professionals,
voluntary organizations, other health-service providers and consumers will further improve
outcome.
Professor Luigi Cataliotti President EUSOMA |
Professor Cornelis van de Velde Chairman EORTC-BCCG |
Mrs Gloria Freilich President Europa Donna |