1113 Background: Despite therapeutic advances, metastatic breast cancer (mBC) and its treatments substantially impact quality of life. This impact, as well as prognosis and treatment strategies, varies by histological subtype. The Croyances et Réalités 3 (R3) survey, building on the 2015 and 2020 editions (R1 and R2), provides a longitudinal perspective on how French mBC patients perceive information and the support they receive. Methods: R3 was a multicenter, cross-sectional mirror survey involving patients with recurrent or de novo mBC (HR+/HER2−, HER2+, Triple-negative (TN)), and oncologists who completed paired questionnaires. Subgroup analyses were prespecified by histological subtype. Results: The survey was completed by 331 patients with mBC and 56 oncologists, enabling robust patient–physician comparisons with 80% mirroring. Mean patient age was 64 and 37% lived alone. Only 10% were still in the workforce while 58% were retired. The mean medical consultation duration was 40 minutes and in 26% of cases, was followed by a consultation with a nurse. Patients showed good understanding of their histological subtype, with 62% able to report it correctly (vs 37% in R2). Communication metrics also improved: 86% of patients felt their physician took time to explain, 79% felt listened to, and 69% reported good comprehension, closely matching physicians’ perceptions (>80%). For 28% of patients, the treatment decision was shared, while 35% would like to be more involved. Supportive care and disease information brochures were the most common resources handed out (60% and 47% respectively). Uptake of supportive care increased to 65% overall (53% in R2). Psychologist (48% vs 36% in R2), dietitian (44% vs 26%), oncology aesthetician (35% vs 26%), and adapted physical activity (28% vs 18%) use increased. Among patients who did not seek supportive care, 37% stated that it was not offered to them, while 38% stated that they did not wish to receive it. Regarding impact of the disease on daily life, patients with HER2+ and TN mBC reported greater physical burden, including general fatigue and pain with significant impact (HER2+: 52%, TN: 50% vs HR+/HER2−: 33%), and reported greater use of supportive care (HER2+: 67%+, TN: 72% vs HR+/HER2−: 49%). The use of patient associations remained limited, at 11%. Conclusions: This current study R3 documents meaningful progress—patients’ knowledge of their disease has improved, and oncologists have enhanced communication and supportive care delivery. However, despite recent improvements, supportive care remains underutilized, while the burden of the disease and its treatments remain substantial, underscoring the need to formalize care pathways that systematically integrate supportive care. Further progress is needed to improve shared decision-making, a recognized patient priority.
Lefeuvre et al. (Wed,) studied this question.