Chamber
Plenary, 06 Oct 1999
06 Oct 1999 · S1 · Plenary
Item of business
Breast Cancer
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 us to identify women who are at risk. Professor Haites of the University of Aberdeen is piloting a managed clinical network for Scotland on the clinical genetics of breast cancer and ovarian cancer, which may be one way forward. We also need more non-clinical well woman centres where breast care is one of many strands of work to encourage women to look after their health. However, such centres are difficult to set up in sparsely populated areas. It may therefore be necessary to consider a well woman touring bus, along the same lines as the sexual health bus organised by Reach Out Highland.
I want, also, to highlight women's experiences of breast cancer. A recent focus group study for Highland Health Board, comprising women from Inverness, Lochaber and Wick, found that women often felt seriously disempowered and unsupported through the process of surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Women often felt that there was a lack of honesty about what was in store for them. They wanted not to be shielded from the reality of their prognosis, but to receive the information that they needed to know what their options were. Such information was not always made available.
A couple of days ago, I spoke to a friend of mine—a young woman in her 30s—who has discovered that she has breast cancer. It took a week for her diagnosis to come through, because she lives in Inverness. She, too, felt that she was not given enough information about what was in store and about what could be done—whether she should have a mastectomy, a lumpectomy, reconstruction or other treatment.
The women in the focus group complained also about insensitive attitudes. One of them said that she had been treated like a slab of meat, made to lie half-naked as she waited to see the surgeon for the first time. Another woman complained about the insensitivity of being allowed to see cupboards piled high with breasts when she went to be fitted with her prosthesis.
The women felt that they were not being treated as human beings. They wanted proper breast care
units with breast care nurses—there is one breast care nurse in Inverness; the women want more. The women wanted proper support. Highland Health Board is taking such views on board, as it is concerned about what was discovered through the focus group.
All of these points have implications for how we train the medical profession to treat patients in this sensitive area.
First, genetic profiling could help us to identify women who are at risk. Professor Haites of the University of Aberdeen is piloting a managed clinical network for Scotland on the clinical genetics of breast cancer and ovarian cancer, which may be one way forward. We also need more non-clinical well woman centres where breast care is one of many strands of work to encourage women to look after their health. However, such centres are difficult to set up in sparsely populated areas. It may therefore be necessary to consider a well woman touring bus, along the same lines as the sexual health bus organised by Reach Out Highland.
I want, also, to highlight women's experiences of breast cancer. A recent focus group study for Highland Health Board, comprising women from Inverness, Lochaber and Wick, found that women often felt seriously disempowered and unsupported through the process of surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Women often felt that there was a lack of honesty about what was in store for them. They wanted not to be shielded from the reality of their prognosis, but to receive the information that they needed to know what their options were. Such information was not always made available.
A couple of days ago, I spoke to a friend of mine—a young woman in her 30s—who has discovered that she has breast cancer. It took a week for her diagnosis to come through, because she lives in Inverness. She, too, felt that she was not given enough information about what was in store and about what could be done—whether she should have a mastectomy, a lumpectomy, reconstruction or other treatment.
The women in the focus group complained also about insensitive attitudes. One of them said that she had been treated like a slab of meat, made to lie half-naked as she waited to see the surgeon for the first time. Another woman complained about the insensitivity of being allowed to see cupboards piled high with breasts when she went to be fitted with her prosthesis.
The women felt that they were not being treated as human beings. They wanted proper breast care
units with breast care nurses—there is one breast care nurse in Inverness; the women want more. The women wanted proper support. Highland Health Board is taking such views on board, as it is concerned about what was discovered through the focus group.
All of these points have implications for how we train the medical profession to treat patients in this sensitive area.
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.