Understanding Progress in Detection, Diagnosis, and Treatment

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month where we are reminded of the importance of early detection, education, and community involvement in the fight against breast cancer.

Breast cancer accounts for around 15% of all new cancer cases in the UK, more than any other cancer type. In women specifically, it’s even more dominant – it makes up roughly 3 in 10 new female cancer diagnoses, with around 59,400 women diagnosed each year.

Why Early Detection Matters

Early detection is one of the most effective ways to improve breast cancer outcomes. Regular screening, including mammograms and breast self-examinations, is essential for identifying cancer at an early stage, when treatment is often most successful. In England, regular screening is already effective at identifying cancers at early stages with 85% of women diagnosed early at stage 1 and 2, which is associated with better prognosis on average. Women should regularly check their breasts for any unusual changes, and it is important to remember that although breast cancer is far more common in women, it can also occur in men.

How Breast Cancer Is Staged

The AJCC Breast Cancer Staging Manual uses the TNM classification:

T (Tumour): size and extent of the primary tumour.

N (Nodes): involvement of regional lymph nodes.

M (Metastasis): presence or absence of distant spread.

The current AJCC system also incorporates biological factors such as Histological grade, Oestrogen receptor status, Progesterone receptor status and Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 2 (HER2) status, providing a more accurate assessment of prognosis and helping guide treatment decisions.

Treatment Strategies for Early and Advanced Breast Cancer

Once breast cancer has been diagnosed and staged, treatment is tailored to the characteristics of the tumour and the extent of the disease. For early-stage breast cancer, the goal is often to cure, with treatment typically involving a combination of surgery, radiotherapy, and systemic therapies such as hormone therapy, chemotherapy, targeted therapy, or immunotherapy depending on the tumour subtype and individual risk of recurrence.

Patients with hormone receptor-positive, HER2-negative, metastatic breast cancer can be treated initially with hormone therapies combined with targeted medicines that help slow cancer growth while maintaining quality of life. For some patients, genetic testing may identify specific mutations, such as PIK3CA, ESR1, BRCA1/2, or PALB2, allowing access to more personalised treatment approaches. If the cancer progresses, additional targeted therapies may be available before chemotherapy is considered.

Highlights from ASCO: Promising results in breast cancer trials

At this year’s ASCO Congress, several studies investigating novel treatment approaches delivered promising results, highlighting the potential for new effective regimens in the near future. The ASCENT-04, SERENA-6, VIKTORIA-1, and PANKU-Breast02 trials have all demonstrated encouraging efficacy outcomes, and we look forward to seeing how these findings evolve as the studies continue.

Emerging Evidence from the ESMO Congress

Similarly, the recent ESMO Congress showcased several encouraging developments in advanced breast cancer treatment. The postMONARCH study demonstrated an overall survival benefit for people treated with Verzenio (abemaciclib) plus Faslodex (fulvestrant) compared with Faslodex alone in hormone receptor-positive, advanced breast cancer that had progressed during prior CDK4/6 inhibitor therapy. Meanwhile, the PANKU-Breast01 trial also reported promising results, with a median progression-free survival of eight months for people receiving iza-bren (Izalontamab brengitecan), compared with four months for those receiving physician’s choice chemotherapy after 14 months of follow-up.

Continued progress in breast cancer care is being driven by a combination of early detection, increasingly personalised treatment strategies, and ongoing clinical research. As our understanding of tumour biology grows and new therapies continue to emerge, patients are benefiting from more effective and targeted treatment options than ever before. If you want to hear about our CMO’s experience at ESMO, follow this link to read her blog.

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References

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[2] NHS Digital. Cancer incidence by stage. Cancer Registration Statistics, England, 2022 2024. https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/cancer-registration-statistics/england-2022/incidence-by-stage-at-diagnosis (accessed October 19, 2026).

[3] American Cancer Society. Breast Cancer Stages. https://www.cancer.org/cancer/breast-cancer/understanding-a-breast-cancer-diagnosis/stages-of-breast-cancer.html (accessed October 21, 2026).

[4] Loibl S, André F, Bachelot T, Barrios CH, Bergh J, Burstein HJ, Cardoso MJ, Carey LA, Dawood S, Del Mastro L, Denkert C, Fallenberg EM, Francis PA, Gamal-Eldin H, Gelmon K, Geyer CE, Gnant M, Guarneri V, Gupta S, Kim SB, Krug D, Martin M, Meattini I, Morrow M, Janni W, Paluch-Shimon S, Partridge A, Poortmans P, Pusztai L, Regan MM, Sparano J, Spanic T, Swain S, Tjulandin S, Toi M, Trapani D, Tutt A, Xu B, Curigliano G, Harbeck N; ESMO Guidelines Committee. Electronic address: clinicalguidelines@esmo.org. Early breast cancer: ESMO Clinical Practice Guideline for diagnosis, treatment and follow-up. Ann Oncol. 2024 Feb;35(2):159-182.

[5] de Azambuja E, Barrios CH, Bartsch R, Curigliano G, Dent R, Gennari A, Loi S, Paluch-Shimon S, Pistilli B, Saura C, Schmid P, Spanic T, Toi M, Tolaney SM, Harbeck N; ESMO Guidelines Committee. Electronic address: clinicalguidelines@esmo.org. Metastatic breast cancer: ESMO Clinical Practice Guideline for diagnosis, treatment and follow-up. Ann Oncol. 2026 Sep;37(9):1203-1219. [6] Cancer Network. ASCO Annual Meeting: Breast Cancer. https://www.cancernetwork.com/conference/asco-breast-cancer (accessed October 28, 2026).

[7] Breast Cancer. Breast Cancer Research Highlights From ESMO 2026. https://www.breastcancer.org/news/esmo-highlights-2026 (accessed October 28, 2026)