Chamber
Plenary, 06 Oct 1999
06 Oct 1999 · S1 · Plenary
Item of business
Breast Cancer
I take those comments on board. I think that what I did was to ask the minister to look at the issue. In September, the minister answered a written question from Bristow Muldoon, which shows that we are generally moving that way. Nobody wants to do anything that is counterproductive, but screening is an issue, and one that is being raised by the Scottish Breast Cancer Campaign. I have raised it in the past for Age Concern because it is concerned about the position of older women in society.
Eventually, we must be aware of the fact that there is a problem with regard to women attending for screening. In some cases, only 65 per cent of women who are eligible to attend for screening under the present regime do so.
We must send out a challenge, not only to practitioners and to ourselves as politicians, but to the women of Scotland and their partners to ensure that women take responsibility and come forward for screening. We must try to ensure that they have the best information on what screening involves and what the benefits are. Screening reduces deaths by up to 30 per cent. We must do everything that we can to ensure that screening is effective.
In my constituency in Edinburgh, I have a world- renowned oncology department in the Western general hospital and the well-known Maggie's Centre. The work of people in the health service in Scotland, particularly on breast cancer, but also in other cancer-related fields, is tremendous, and we should put on record our thanks to all of them. We should examine the points that Irene McGugan made on research.
To widen the debate slightly, over the past few years, breast cancer awareness has been heightened, and it is right that that is so, but I am always aware of the fact that while women are taking a much more vocal interest in breast cancer and other cancers that afflict women, our male counterparts do not spend as much time focusing on male cancers. I hope that at some point in the coming year we will have a chance to speak in this Parliament about testicular cancer and other cancers that affect men. Women have said, "This is something that we must address and we shall do so in this Parliament." It is time for men to do the same.
I thank Pauline McNeill for enabling me to speak on this subject.
Eventually, we must be aware of the fact that there is a problem with regard to women attending for screening. In some cases, only 65 per cent of women who are eligible to attend for screening under the present regime do so.
We must send out a challenge, not only to practitioners and to ourselves as politicians, but to the women of Scotland and their partners to ensure that women take responsibility and come forward for screening. We must try to ensure that they have the best information on what screening involves and what the benefits are. Screening reduces deaths by up to 30 per cent. We must do everything that we can to ensure that screening is effective.
In my constituency in Edinburgh, I have a world- renowned oncology department in the Western general hospital and the well-known Maggie's Centre. The work of people in the health service in Scotland, particularly on breast cancer, but also in other cancer-related fields, is tremendous, and we should put on record our thanks to all of them. We should examine the points that Irene McGugan made on research.
To widen the debate slightly, over the past few years, breast cancer awareness has been heightened, and it is right that that is so, but I am always aware of the fact that while women are taking a much more vocal interest in breast cancer and other cancers that afflict women, our male counterparts do not spend as much time focusing on male cancers. I hope that at some point in the coming year we will have a chance to speak in this Parliament about testicular cancer and other cancers that affect men. Women have said, "This is something that we must address and we shall do so in this Parliament." It is time for men to do the same.
I thank Pauline McNeill for enabling me to speak on this subject.
In the same item of business
The Presiding Officer (Sir David Steel):
NPA
We now move to members' business and motion S1M-162 in the name of Pauline McNeill on the subject of breast cancer. The debate will last for 30 minutes. Memb...
Motion debated,
That the Parliament notes that breast cancer is the most commonly occurring cancer amongst women in Scotland; notes that early detection has saved many lives...
Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab):
Lab
I have lodged this motion because this is our first meeting in October and October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The pink ribbon and its tartan counterpa...
Irene McGugan (North-East Scotland) (SNP):
SNP
Pauline McNeill is to be commended for bringing this matter to the attention of the Parliament, as are the organisers of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. In Sc...
Ms Margaret Curran (Glasgow Baillieston) (Lab):
Lab
From Ruth Picardie's moving columns in The Observer to our everyday experiences, we are becoming aware of the reality of breast cancer and the key issues tha...
Mrs Margaret Smith (Edinburgh West) (LD):
LD
I welcome the opportunity, as previous speakers have, to highlight the impact of breast cancer on the health of Scottish women. It impacts not only on women ...
Dr Richard Simpson (Ochil) (Lab):
Lab
I would like to offer a word of caution on the screening issue, which is not straightforward. Mass screening is not necessarily the answer for people over 65...
Mrs Smith:
LD
I take those comments on board. I think that what I did was to ask the minister to look at the issue. In September, the minister answered a written question ...
Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con):
Con
I concur with the points that Irene McGugan made on screening. I fall into the category where I do not get breast screening for several years. When I mention...
Malcolm Chisholm (Edinburgh North and Leith) (Lab):
Lab
Once again, one of the best and most important debates in the Parliament is taking place at the end of the day. The shocking figures about breast cancer have...
Dorothy-Grace Elder (Glasgow) (SNP):
SNP
I thank Pauline McNeill and Margaret Curran for raising this important issue. Some years ago, I became one of the many women to go through a breast cancer sc...
Elaine Smith (Coatbridge and Chryston) (Lab):
Lab
I will keep my speech brief. I welcome the opportunity that Pauline McNeill has given us to raise awareness of breast cancer. Given that breast cancer is the...
Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP):
SNP
On Friday, in my constituency surgery in Fort William, I was consulted by a 35year- old woman who is suffering from breast cancer. She is brave woman, not on...
Maureen Macmillan (Highlands and Islands) (Lab):
Lab
Many of the points that I was going to make have been covered in the debate, but there are one or two that I want to add. First, genetic profiling could help...
Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP):
SNP
I did not intend to speak in this debate, but as we went along, I realised that I am one of those women who are over 50, who get the recall and who defer goi...
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Ms Patricia Ferguson):
Lab
As Christine's contribution was so brief, we can just about squeeze in one last speaker. I call Hugh Henry.
Hugh Henry (Paisley South) (Lab):
Lab
Like other members, I congratulate Pauline McNeill on her initiative in securing this debate and on her work. I am aware of some of the issues surrounding br...
The Deputy Presiding Officer:
Lab
I am conscious that this is a debate that many more members than usual have stayed behind for. If I closed the meeting now, I would be excluding one member w...
Dr Richard Simpson (Ochil) (Lab):
Lab
I will be very brief. Most of the points have already been made. I wanted to end on a good-news story. The west of Scotland breast screening service had come...
The Minister for Health and Community Care (Susan Deacon):
Lab
I have listened with great interest to the debate and will attempt to pick up some of the points that have been raised. The interest and participation that t...
The Deputy Presiding Officer:
Lab
I thank members for their co-operation this evening and I now close the meeting.
Meeting closed at 17:50.