Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women and the second most common cause of death from cancer in women in the United Kingdom. Each year in the UK more than 12 300 women and 70 men will die from advanced breast cancer having lived with this condition for an average of two to three years before death. 1 2 3 4 Management of advanced breast cancer requires the input of a wide range of healthcare professionals, usually in primary, secondary, and tertiary healthcare settings. Clinical practice and availability of certain treatments and procedures are known to vary across the UK. This article summarises the most recent recommendations from the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) on the diagnosis and treatment of advanced breast cancer. 5
NICE recommendations are based on systematic reviews of best available evidence. When minimal evidence is available, recommendations are based on the Guideline Development Group’s opinion of what constitutes good practice. Evidence levels for the recommendations are given in italic in square brackets.