The time taken to begin treatment after a cancer diagnosis can have an impact on patient outcomes. In response to this challenge, since January 2026 Gustave Roussy has been offering a one-day therapeutic consultation pathway dedicated to breast cancer.

"Since the launch of InstaDiag Breast in 2004, an increasing number of breast imaging centres have offered women with suspicious lesions the possibility of undergoing a diagnostic biopsy directly. As a result, many patients now arrive at Gustave Roussy with a confirmed diagnosis. However, it remains necessary to review and complete the staging work-up before initiating a personalised treatment plan. Previously, this pre-treatment assessment could take several weeks," explains Dr Thomas Grinda, medical oncologist within the Breast Cancer Committee.

To address these delays, Gustave Roussy's new therapeutic pathway brings together, within its day hospital and over the course of a single day, all the examinations and medical appointments required to rapidly initiate treatment. Patients arrive in the morning and first meet with a radiologist, who reviews their imaging examinations to confirm tumour size, identify any additional breast lesions and assess nearby lymph nodes.

Where necessary, a second biopsy is performed, together with a PET scan to establish an initial staging assessment of the disease. Blood tests and breast photographs are also carried out to support planning for any potential breast reconstruction procedure. The day concludes with an appointment with a medical oncologist, who is then able to outline the proposed treatment strategy, whether surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy or another therapeutic approach.

"Today, around two-thirds of our patients arrive at Gustave Roussy having already undergone an initial biopsy. We developed this multidisciplinary pathway in response to this new reality and to further reduce treatment delays. It enables us to propose an initial treatment strategy to the patient very quickly, which is subsequently reviewed and validated during the multidisciplinary tumour board meeting," says Dr Barbara Pistilli, medical oncologist and Head of the Breast Cancer Committee.

The therapeutic pathway, which is open to all women recently diagnosed with breast cancer, is the result of extensive care coordination. It is made possible by the multidisciplinary organisation of the Institute’s consultation platform and by the pivotal role played by nurse coordinators. Dedicated consultation slots are reserved for these patients every Thursday.

The pathway is also intended to shorten access times to innovative therapies and clinical trials. "During the consultation with the medical oncologist at the end of the assessment day, the patient can already be directed towards a clinical trial suited to her profile, evaluating an innovative medicine or therapeutic approach if appropriate," says Dr Thomas Grinda. "We aim to place Gustave Roussy’s multidisciplinary expertise at the service of patients, accelerating not only their therapeutic management but also their access to innovation. Our ambition is simple: to ensure that every woman can benefit from the latest advances in research," he adds.

This new pathway further strengthens Gustave Roussy’s rapid-access care offering. Since 2004, the InstaDiag Breast pathway has enabled all examinations required to establish a diagnosis to be completed in a single location and within a single day for women presenting with a breast abnormality detected through mammography or clinical examination and suspected of having a malignant lesion. Over the past 20 years, 25,000 women have benefited from the programme.

Several other InstaDiag pathways have since been introduced at Gustave Roussy. These include the One-Day Thyroid Nodule Clinic, established in 2008, followed in 2022 by InstaDiag Lung, developed within the framework of the International Thoracic Cancers Centre (CICT), which brings together Gustave Roussy and the Paris Saint-Joseph – Marie Lannelongue Hospital Group. Since 2024, four additional rapid diagnostic InstaDiag pathways have been launched, focusing on suspected lesions of the liver, pancreas, gynaecological organs and skin, including a dedicated pathway for skin carcinomas.

"Thanks to advances in research and patient care, we are now able to cure nine out of ten women diagnosed with breast cancer. One of the major challenges that urgently needs to be addressed today is improving the way we care for these women, not only by reducing the toxicities associated with certain treatments, but also by shortening delays, both at the diagnostic stage and throughout therapeutic management. Our objective is to provide every woman with the treatment best suited to her situation while preserving her quality of life," concludes Dr Barbara Pistilli.