The initiative, driven by the Spanish Association for Metastatic Breast Cancer (AECMM) in collaboration with the Daiichi Sankyo | AstraZeneca Alliance, has turned each edition of the race into a platform for the women living with this disease.
But there is still a road ahead. When #laMquefalta started in 2022, only 3 in 10 Spaniards stated with confidence that they knew what metastatic breast cancer is. Today, 93% of the population has heard of it, a development that reflects the real impact of five years of awareness. However, deep knowledge remains a challenge.
“Not all cancers are the same, and understanding the characteristics of each one changes our options and our way of life. Therefore, information and research are essential tools that allow us to gain time and quality of life”, says Elisenda Martínez, president and patient of the AECMM.
Data do not leave any doubt about the magnitude of the challenge. In Europe, approximately 558,000 new cases of breast cancer are diagnosed each year, with about 145,000 related deaths.
Cifras que refuerzan la urgencia de apostar por la detección precoz, los tratamientos más eficaces y, sobre todo, por una medicina que entienda que cada diagnóstico es único
In Spain, it is estimated that in 2026 more than 38,000 women will receive a breast cancer diagnosis, of which roughly 20% will be between 20 and 39 years old. Of the total diagnoses, between 5% and 6% will present metastases. These figures, beyond their statistical weight, represent personal stories and remind us that, despite the enormous advances of science, there is still a long way to go.
For that reason, giving visibility to metastatic breast cancer remains a top priority. To raise social awareness, advance education about biomarkers and personalized treatments, and accompany the women who live with the disease every day.
That is the commitment that #laMquefalta renews each year at the starting line
“Research has radically changed the prognosis of cancer in recent decades. But what matters most is to understand that behind every diagnosis there is a person, with a story, with decisions and a life to continue building,” concludes Elisenda Martínez.
To learn more:
https://dsoncologia.es/compromiso-oncologia/nuestras-iniciativas/laMquefalta/
https://www.astrazenecapacientes.es//home/oncology/cancer-de-mama/la-m-que-falta.html
References:
- Survey “Knowledge about breast cancer among the Spanish population” conducted between February 15 and 17, 2022 by Atrevia and funded by the Daiichi Sankyo | AstraZeneca Alliance. Sample size of 5,024 units.
- Europe Breast Cancer Awareness Survey by the Daiichi Sankyo | AstraZeneca Alliance. Conducted in October 2024 among 7,750 respondents in Germany, Spain, France, Italy and the United Kingdom. Approval code: HQ/ONP/12/24/0005
- International Agency for Research on Cancer. (n.d.). Global Cancer Observatory: Cancer in the future (Cancer type: Breast cancer). World Health Organization. https://gco.iarc.who.int/tomorrow/en/dataviz/bars?cancers=20
- International Agency for Research on Cancer. (n.d.). Global Cancer Observatory: Cancer in the future (Incidence projections for breast cancer). World Health Organization. https://gco.iarc.who.int/tomorrow/en/dataviz/bars?cancers=20&types=1
- Spanish Society of Medical Oncology. (2026). Cancer figures in Spain 2026. https://seom.org/images/Las_Cifras_del_Cancer_en_Espanya_2026.pdf
- GEICAM. (2016). GEICAM Clinical Practice Guideline in Breast Cancer. https://www.geicam.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/GUIA-GEICAM-COMPLETA.pdf
