Winchester MP Steve Brine has launched a pioneering new report looking at the issue of breast cancer.
The report called 'Age is just a number' follows a major inquiry led by Mr Brine and outlines new and urgent recommendations to combat the issues surrounding inequality in treatment, services and support available to older breast cancer patients.
Listen to Steve's launch event as covered by BBC Radio 4
For the first time, proactive measures to help tackle what has been a long suspected problem within the NHS have been outlined in this new report by The All Party Parliamentary Group on Breast Cancer which Steve Brine chairs. The report's recommendations are being backed by the UK's leading breast cancer charities, Breakthrough Breast Cancer, Breast Cancer Care and Breast Cancer Campaign, with support from renowned broadcaster Dame Jenni Murray DBE, who was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2006.
Some of the main areas requiring attention, highlighted in the report, are breast awareness which needs to be radically improved amongst older women. This group experience poorer survival outcomes, in part attributed to late diagnosis, with one in five women aged over 70 reported to never touch, feel or look at their breasts.
It also says the current breast cancer screening age extension trial should be extended further, up to 79 and goes on 'As life-expectancy continues to climb, more needs to be known about the benefits and risks of screening in women over 70s'. Steve Brine says; "Once routine NHS breast screening invitations stop women often assume they are no longer at risk and this is a dangerous myth. We need to ensure women understand that their risk of breast cancer increases with age."
Other recommendations from the report, which has been backed by Prime Minister David Cameron, says an evidence-based tool must be developed to ensure older breast cancer patients are not judged by their age but by their individual fitness for treatment and demands that the additional needs of older breast cancer patients must be taken into account at time of diagnosis to ensure that the best, tailored support system is provided. The inquiry panel heard evidence of patients having to delay or decline cancer treatment because support services were not in place.
Mr Brine adds; "We find ourselves at a watershed moment for the care of older people with breast cancer. Every year, over 15,000 women aged over 70 are diagnosed with breast cancer. Yet older women experience poorer survival outcomes, in part attributed to late diagnosis. We must take action now if we are to understand why this occurs and tackle this situation head on.
"I am so passionate about fighting this condition and so are this cross-party committee of MPs. Ultimately we want to save more of the lives lost each year to breast cancer and I hope this report can play even a small part in doing that."
The broadcaster Dame Jenni Murray has provided the foreword to the report, and adds: "Research and the media have shown us that barriers in gaining access to the same treatments and support services available to younger breast cancer patients are happening in England today. I welcome the APPGBC's report as it presents us with an opportunity to take action and improve the situation for older breast cancer patients, which is urgently needed."
Pictured; Joan Sherrin, Steve Brine MP, Christina Heys and Jane Trollope with renowned RHCH Breast Surgeon Dick Rainsbury who gave evidence to the inquiry. The ladies are from the Winchester Breast Cancer Support Group who attended the launch event at the House of Commons.
More information...
The full report is available to download via www.stevebrine.com/breastcancer