Giving voice to people facing metastatic breast cancer
The Elaine ESR1 & Quality of Life Survey (EQUALS) project began with a mission to give a voice to the people who are facing metastatic breast cancer.
Three surveys later, it has not only given patients a voice, but it has helped clinicians and researchers understand what patients are going through when they are undergoing treatment.
The goal of the surveys was to ensure that everyone – no matter what they look like or where they live – had an equal opportunity to share their experiences.
The EQUALS surveys have served as a conversation starter for important but often neglected topics in patient care, such as:
Quality of life (QOL)
(derived from the patients’ perspectives)
Sexual health
Side effects
Treatment Goals and Quality of Life (QoL) in a Survey of Patients with ER+/HER2-Metastatic Breast Cancer (mBC)
Knowledge of Tumor/Blood Genomic Testing (NGS) and ESR1 Mutations in a Survey of Patients with ER+/HER2- Metastatic Breast Cancer (mBC)
EQUALS I survey
Survey for people with ER+/HER2- metastatic breast cancer conducted by the EQUALS steering committee
This survey helped to inform practicing oncologists about patients’ understanding of ESR1 mutations and the QOL of metastatic breast cancer patients. The results educated both clinicians and patients while raising awareness about ESR1 mutations, and the results were shown in two poster presentations at a major medical meeting.
EQUALS II survey
Survey for people with ER+/HER2- metastatic breast cancer conducted by the EQUALS steering committee
This survey is the second iteration of EQUALS, and like the results of the first, it helped to educate both clinicians and patients while raising awareness about the unique needs and experiences of metastatic breast cancer patients. This specific survey informs practicing oncologists about people who have metastatic breast cancer and their self-reported vaginal and sexual health, and its impact on their QOL.
EQUALS III survey
Survey for people with ER+/HER2- metastatic breast cancer conducted by the EQUALS steering committee
This survey will build upon findings from EQUALS I and II surveys, with a specific focus on expectations, education specific to and realities of the side effects and toxicities of therapies within the treatment arena from the patient perspective, and the extent that patients feel that these were adequately reviewed with them and discussed by their oncologist and medical team. This survey, like the results of the first two, will help elucidate gaps and opportunities to educate both clinicians and patients while raising awareness about the unique needs and experiences of metastatic breast cancer patients.
Results to be presented.
About our steering committee
The EQUALS surveys have been developed by a group of four incredible individuals in the breast cancer space.
Jane Meisel, MD
Associate Professor of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Associate Vice Chair of Faculty Development and Promotions, Winship Cancer Institute at Emory University
Timothy Pluard, MD
Director, Saint Luke’s Cancer Institute, Koontz Endowed Chair in Breast Disease, University of Missouri – KC School of Medicine, Founder/Director, Koontz Center for Advanced Breast Cancer
Sarah Sammons, MD
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Faculty Member, Harvard Medical School
Kelly Shanahan, MD
Board member of METAvivor, member of the Metastatic Breast Cancer Alliance, a Komen Advocate in Science, Grant Reviewer and Research Advocate, living with metastatic breast cancer since 2013
Thank you to our partners
We would like to thank all patient advocacy groups for the work they do every day to promote patient-centered care, and for their support in helping to advance treatment options for patients with mBC.
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