St Austell and Newquay’s Member of Parliament has worked with research and care Charity Breast
Cancer Now to secure a Metastatic Breast Cancer Audit for
patients in England.
Although data collection relating to the number of people
diagnosed with secondary breast cancer was made mandatory in 2013
in England, this was still not routinely happening, meaning there
is an absence of accurate data on the number of secondary breast
cancer diagnoses each year, how many people are living with the
disease or length of survival following diagnosis.
This lack of accurate and easily accessible data makes it
difficult for commissioners and healthcare providers to
understand their local patient populations, what their needs are
and how to plan services and support to adequately meet them.
A metastatic breast cancer audit in England should provide a
clear picture of how many people there are living with secondary
breast cancer, as well as their experiences and needs, and this
will in turn lead to patients living with this disease being
better supported and less alone; to cancer services and clinical
trials being planned to meet their needs, and to the staff needed
to help these patients being properly resourced.
Commenting Steve said:
“We lost my Mum to secondary breast cancer at the age of 62, so I
am very much aware breast cancer is a terrible disease that
blights the lives of so many. There was a clear gap in provision
of an audit for secondary breast cancer, and I am pleased, in my
role as Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Secretary of State
for Health, to have worked with Breast Cancer Now and Health
Ministers to make the clear and sensible for an audit to take
place.”
“Now this has been agreed, I hope it will help our NHS understand
a clear picture of how many people there are living with this
disease, and in turn give patients and their families more of the
support they need while receiving treatment.”
Mia Rosenblatt, Associate Director of Policy, Evidence and
Influencing at Breast Cancer Now, said:
“The announcement of a National Metastatic Breast Cancer Audit in
England marks a long-awaited milestone for patients with
incurable breast cancer, and we’re so grateful to MPs, including
Steve, who’ve worked with Breast Cancer Now and our supporters to
help make this happen.
“Until now, women with secondary breast cancer have felt
overlooked and forgotten at an already frightening and
challenging time. While this data won’t be available immediately,
it brings hope for patients in the future as it will inform the
development of treatment, care and support that gives people with
this devastating disease the best chance to live well for as long
as possible.”
