Meeting of the Parliament 09 October 2025
I, too, express my sincere thanks to Clare Adamson for bringing this important motion to the chamber for debate and to my fellow MSPs, who have all provided meaningful and thought-provoking contributions to our discussion.
I associate myself with the motion’s commendation of the work of the charity Breast Cancer Now. It is an active member of the Scottish Cancer Coalition, and I greatly appreciate its contribution to the national conversation on issues in relation to breast cancer and its vital work in supporting women living with breast cancer in Scotland. Clare Adamson and other members are right to recognise the support that men living with breast cancer get, too.
I have met the charity on a number of occasions since I became Minister for Public Health and Women’s Health, and I look forward to continuing that important collaboration into the future. The charity published its five-year strategy at the end of September, and I was pleased to note that our priorities continue to be aligned in the coming years and that its three key themes—earlier diagnosis, care and support, and new treatment—echo the ambitions of our 10-year cancer strategy for Scotland, which we published in 2023.
Everyone in the chamber has been completely correct about wear it pink. Stephen Kerr talked about what an effective way it is of raising awareness but also about the messages of care and hope that it brings.
The motion has awarded us the opportunity to mark the important contribution of Christina McKelvie.