Hansard

I am pleased to speak in the debate and I thank Emma Harper for bringing this important issue to the chamber. I also thank Breast Cancer Now and Make 2nds Count for their helpful briefings for the debate. Those organisations have worked tirelessly, alongside many fantastic organisations in the third sector, to highlight the issue of secondary breast cancer. I hope that colleagues can join me in paying tribute to some of those organisations and the important work that they do, which includes funding vital research, pushing for better access to specialist care and supporting patients and their families. That work reminds us that, although research and data are crucial, compassion and care are just as important to so many people.

October marked breast cancer awareness month, which was an opportunity to pause and recognise all those who have been affected by the condition in the past, and all those who are presently living with breast cancer. As Emma Harper’s motion highlights, it is also an opportunity to raise awareness of secondary breast cancer. Despite the condition’s serious nature, awareness and understanding of secondary breast cancer remain far too low. For example, many people are unaware that breast cancer can return and spread to other parts of the body, and there are many misconceptions around the symptoms that occur. Just as with many types of cancer, raising public awareness of secondary breast cancer is vital, and breast cancer awareness month is a huge opportunity for us to do that.

For many people, living with the condition can mean a continuous cycle of hospital visits, treatment and much uncertainty. All too often, the experience is made even harder by a lack of recognition. The truth is that no accurate data exists on how many people are suffering from secondary breast cancer in Scotland. Public Health Scotland data shows that around 4,200 patients were living with secondary breast cancer in 2023. However, that does not include those who were diagnosed following a recurrence or spread of the disease.

For our national health service, and for the many important third sector organisations that work alongside it, the lack of data means that it can be very difficult to tackle the issue. Without that data, we do not know how many people are living with the condition or are being treated, and we do not know how we can ensure improved outcomes for the future. That means that there are potentially thousands of people across Scotland who are not getting the treatment and support that they require.

It is now nearly 10 years since the Scottish Government first committed to collecting data on those with secondary breast cancer in Scotland. It is time that we finally see real progress on the issue, and I hope that the minister will make that assertion in summing up.

We also know that access to specialist nurses and palliative care is not consistent across health boards in Scotland. Patients deserve better than a postcode lottery in dealing with cancer treatment, and better links between oncology services and palliative care are required.

I hope that the Scottish Government can commit to delivering on its “Cancer Action Plan for Scotland 2023-2026” and ensure that no one who is living with secondary breast cancer is ever made to feel invisible or forgotten again because, at the moment, they are.