Chamber
Plenary, 06 Oct 1999
06 Oct 1999 · S1 · Plenary
Item of business
Breast Cancer
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 breast cancer through the lobbying—if we can still use that word—done by Nancy Allison, the past provost of Renfrewshire Council. A member of Nancy's family suffered from breast cancer. Nancy became an advocate of some of the issues involved. She raised funds and took part in awareness-raising. Her experience was first hand—and I knew the family member who suffered—and she felt the suffering personally. It was harrowing to listen to the ups and downs—the emotional rollercoaster ride—that she and her family went through. No one should have to face that, at least not without full support and attention.
I am also aware of other issues, through my experience as a family member. While it was right for Pauline McNeill and others to say that breast cancer is not a class issue, because it affects women of every class—Christine Grahame said that sometimes women from professional backgrounds are as guilty of ignoring the signs and procedures—there is still a class issue that we should not ignore. In poorer communities, women are more likely to suffer the adverse consequences for whatever reason.
I am worried that, when women discover a lump, they are sometimes constrained by their circumstances—I saw that at first hand. I do not know what the situation is now—the minister could perhaps bring me up to date—but I know from first-hand experience the worry that a woman experiences when the lump is discovered, and when she has to wait to have the test done.
I saw someone who is fundamentally opposed to private medicine not only having to suffer the fear and anxiety caused by discovering the lump, but having to put herself through the torture of saying, "Should I go to private medicine in order to get the test done? I cannot wait the time that it takes for the test to be done." No woman should have to wait that length of time. Every woman, after a lump is discovered, should have the right to immediate access to tests, whether they have the financial wherewithal to have that done or not.
Therefore, there is still a class issue: some women in impoverished circumstances do not have the immediate access that other women who can afford it have.
By all means, we could have an awareness programme and start to examine some of the broader issues, but, for God's sake, we must not let any woman go through one day of anxiety more than she has to.
I am aware of some of the issues surrounding breast cancer through the lobbying—if we can still use that word—done by Nancy Allison, the past provost of Renfrewshire Council. A member of Nancy's family suffered from breast cancer. Nancy became an advocate of some of the issues involved. She raised funds and took part in awareness-raising. Her experience was first hand—and I knew the family member who suffered—and she felt the suffering personally. It was harrowing to listen to the ups and downs—the emotional rollercoaster ride—that she and her family went through. No one should have to face that, at least not without full support and attention.
I am also aware of other issues, through my experience as a family member. While it was right for Pauline McNeill and others to say that breast cancer is not a class issue, because it affects women of every class—Christine Grahame said that sometimes women from professional backgrounds are as guilty of ignoring the signs and procedures—there is still a class issue that we should not ignore. In poorer communities, women are more likely to suffer the adverse consequences for whatever reason.
I am worried that, when women discover a lump, they are sometimes constrained by their circumstances—I saw that at first hand. I do not know what the situation is now—the minister could perhaps bring me up to date—but I know from first-hand experience the worry that a woman experiences when the lump is discovered, and when she has to wait to have the test done.
I saw someone who is fundamentally opposed to private medicine not only having to suffer the fear and anxiety caused by discovering the lump, but having to put herself through the torture of saying, "Should I go to private medicine in order to get the test done? I cannot wait the time that it takes for the test to be done." No woman should have to wait that length of time. Every woman, after a lump is discovered, should have the right to immediate access to tests, whether they have the financial wherewithal to have that done or not.
Therefore, there is still a class issue: some women in impoverished circumstances do not have the immediate access that other women who can afford it have.
By all means, we could have an awareness programme and start to examine some of the broader issues, but, for God's sake, we must not let any woman go through one day of anxiety more than she has to.
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.