Management of patients with breast cancer at Gustave Roussy
Gustave Roussy provides care for patients with breast cancer or benign breast conditions, both before and after diagnosis.
The breast pathology team at Gustave Roussy is involved in:
- Diagnosing suspicious breast anomalies;
- Providing comprehensive breast cancer treatment: surgery, reconstructive surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, targeted therapies, post-therapeutic follow-up, and supportive care;
- Managing women at high risk of breast cancer (particularly in cases of BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene alterations): screening and prevention;
- Treating certain specific benign conditions.
Each year, more than 10,000 patients of all ages are treated by the breast pathology committee, including 2,000 new patients.
Despite the high prevalence of the disease (58,500 new cases in France in 2018), patients with breast cancer diagnosed at an early stage achieve remissions in 87% with the ongoing advancements in clinical research (Source : INCa).
One-day diagnostic consultation
Pioneering the "one-day diagnosis" approach, Gustave Roussy has been offering a dedicated consultation since 2004, allowing for a same-day diagnosis of a breast anomaly. This multidisciplinary consultation includes healthcare professionals from various fields, all specialists in breast pathologies (radiologists, surgeons, pathologists, oncologists, nurses, technicians, etc.). Patients are evaluated by a specialist and various exams are performed such as a mammography, ultrasound, tomosynthesis, angiomammography, MRI, image-guided anatomical pathology sampling (microbiopsy, macrobiopsy, fine needle aspiration). In 90% of cases, if the anomaly is a breast "mass" (lump, nodule), we can obtain an exact diagnosis within the day. In the case of microcalcifications (tiny deposits of calcium salts in the mammary gland), a few days are needed to detect the presence of cancer cells.
One-day therapeutic consultation
Patients who already have an established diagnosis of breast cancer and consulting for therapeutic management also have access to one-day therapeutic consultation. Therapeutic decisions are made during multidisciplinary consultation meetings (RCP), attended by physicians from various disciplines: radiologists, pathologists, surgeons, medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, nurses, and psychologists. They evaluate the best treatments for each patient based on exam results and cancer type and stage. These therapeutic recommendations are then communicated to the patient and their family by the referring physician (medical oncologist, surgeon, radiation oncologist). There are several multidisciplinary meetings within the breast pathology committee, including one dedicated to early-stage breast cancer and precancerous lesions and another for metastatic breast cancer. The breast pathology committee regularly participates in the multidisciplinary molecular meeting, where personalized treatment strategies are discussed based on molecular profiling results.
Dedicated clinical trial consultations
Gustave Roussy is a center for care and research. In many cases, alternative techniques or treatments are developed, studied, and may be offered to our patients with the aim of improving current standards. These alternatives are always optional, proposed, discussed, and carried out only in cases where the patient might potentially benefit and wishes to participate in ongoing research. The breast pathology committee offers a dedicated consultation to evaluate patient eligibility for current clinical trials. During this consultation, the treatments and procedures of the clinical trial are explained in detail. All ongoing clinical trials at the breast pathology committee, along with eligibility criteria, are listed on the Klineo application.
► Learn more about the ongoing clinical trials at Gustave Roussy
End of treatment consultation – transition day
Transition Day, organized in collaboration with the DIOPP, is dedicated to patients who have just completed their initial breast cancer treatment. This day aims to facilitate the transition between the end of active treatment and the return to everyday life. During this session, several crucial topics are addressed to help patients better manage certain side effects of the treatments received and improve their daily quality of life. The main topics covered include follow-up care, endocrine therapy, nutrition, physical activity, psychological aspects, and sexuality after cancer.
► Learn more details about transition day
Telesurveillance at the breast pathology committee
The breast pathology committee is actively committed to integrate innovative digital tools into patient follow-up protocols. This approach ensures personalized care at every stage of the therapeutic journey. We are pioneers in adopting telemonitoring by collaborating with the DIOPP and the Résilience team. Our goal is to continue optimizing the quality of care offered to our patients while ensuring more effective and early management of treatment side effects.
Research training
The breast cancer committee offers medical oncology training for medical students, interns, residents, and fellows, as well as preceptorships for certified oncologists. It also hosts students as part of the European University Diploma in Translational and Clinical Research in Oncology (DUERTECC), who conduct research projects in the various areas of expertise of the committee.
