Dear Constituent,
Thank you for contacting me about the Westminster Hall debate on incurable secondary breast cancer. Although I am aware the Westminster Hall debate did not go ahead as scheduled on 5 February, the National Cancer Plan debate in the House of Commons took place on this day, which you can read here. I will look out for updates about when it will be rescheduled.
I met with Breast Cancer Now in the summer when they came to Parliament. It was a pleasure to meet clinicians and campaigners and discuss the challenges faced by people living with secondary breast cancer, particularly in accessing timely and effective treatments.
We must tackle breast cancer at a local and national level and ensure that women are diagnosed as early as possible. The NHS’s Breast Screening Programme in England offers all women between the ages of 50 and 70 the opportunity to be screened for breast cancer every three years.
Breast screening is essential to supporting early diagnosis of breast cancer, and preventing approximately 1,300 women from dying each year. The Government must take steps to support earlier diagnosis through expanding the network of Community Diagnostic Centres (CDCs) and ensuring the NHS meets the Faster Diagnosis Standard.
I understand that several steps are being taken to improve breast cancer screening rates in the United Kingdom. This includes providing £10 million funding through the Women’s Health Strategy to expand capacity for breast screening through the delivery of 29 new breast cancer screening units, 58 remote access upgrades and nearly 70 life-saving service upgrades.
The Government has committed to doubling the number of CT and MRI scanners, and I know my colleagues in the shadow health team will be holding Ministers to account for delivering on these ambitions.
Thank you again for taking the time to contact me.
Sincerely,
