Chamber
Plenary, 30 Sep 2009
30 Sep 2009 · S3 · Plenary
Item of business
Breast Cancer Awareness Month
I, too, thank Rhona Brankin for bringing the issue to the Parliament for debate.
I state an interest as the patron of the Scottish Breast Cancer Campaign for about eight years—it just seems like 80. Some of its members are in the public gallery tonight. I was attracted to the SBCC because it is not just a shake-your-can voluntary organisation; it tries to shake the establishment and shake up the policies that affect breast cancer services. Partly because of its questionnaire 2000, which was a record that the SBCC compiled of the treatment and experience of every woman in Scotland who had been diagnosed with breast cancer over the previous two years, we were able to contribute to the improvement of services. However, as Christine Grahame pointed out, the letter still takes far too long to get to the women concerned—the letter that every woman dreads. Whether it takes a weekend or two weeks, it takes a horrendous time to arrive. Surely that could be bettered with today's instant communications.
Services have improved in other areas. Treatments have certainly improved—the better survival rates prove that—and the SBCC's focus has therefore moved to prevention. I take a bit of an issue with people who say, "If you just take your fruit and vegetables, exercise and lose weight"—that would be difficult for some of us—"you'll go a long way towards preventing breast cancer." People might go a bit of the way to doing that, as they will help their general health and be in a better position to resist breast cancer if they develop it, but I am interested in the possible connection between breast cancer and the chemical imbalances in our lifestyles nowadays. The SBCC is particularly interested in endocrine-disrupting chemicals that are found in plastics, cosmetics, body care products and cleaning products. We do not yet know whether there is a direct connection between environmental factors and the development of different cancers. We strongly suspect that there is such a connection, but we need much more research on that.
I state an interest as the patron of the Scottish Breast Cancer Campaign for about eight years—it just seems like 80. Some of its members are in the public gallery tonight. I was attracted to the SBCC because it is not just a shake-your-can voluntary organisation; it tries to shake the establishment and shake up the policies that affect breast cancer services. Partly because of its questionnaire 2000, which was a record that the SBCC compiled of the treatment and experience of every woman in Scotland who had been diagnosed with breast cancer over the previous two years, we were able to contribute to the improvement of services. However, as Christine Grahame pointed out, the letter still takes far too long to get to the women concerned—the letter that every woman dreads. Whether it takes a weekend or two weeks, it takes a horrendous time to arrive. Surely that could be bettered with today's instant communications.
Services have improved in other areas. Treatments have certainly improved—the better survival rates prove that—and the SBCC's focus has therefore moved to prevention. I take a bit of an issue with people who say, "If you just take your fruit and vegetables, exercise and lose weight"—that would be difficult for some of us—"you'll go a long way towards preventing breast cancer." People might go a bit of the way to doing that, as they will help their general health and be in a better position to resist breast cancer if they develop it, but I am interested in the possible connection between breast cancer and the chemical imbalances in our lifestyles nowadays. The SBCC is particularly interested in endocrine-disrupting chemicals that are found in plastics, cosmetics, body care products and cleaning products. We do not yet know whether there is a direct connection between environmental factors and the development of different cancers. We strongly suspect that there is such a connection, but we need much more research on that.
In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Alasdair Morgan):
SNP
The final item of business is a members' business debate on motion S3M-4493, in the name of Rhona Brankin, on breast cancer awareness month.
Motion debated,
That the Parliament notes with concern the increasing incidence of breast cancer in the NHS Lothian area, with nearly 3,000 women diagnosed between 2002 and ...
Rhona Brankin (Midlothian) (Lab):
Lab
I thank the members who have taken the time to attend and to participate in this debate on a hugely important issue. I begin by remembering Margaret Ewing, t...
The Deputy Presiding Officer:
SNP
I ask visitors in the gallery not to applaud.
Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP):
SNP
I congratulate Rhona Brankin on bringing the debate to the chamber and I echo her fond recollections of my colleague Margaret Ewing. I do not wish to embarra...
Malcolm Chisholm (Edinburgh North and Leith) (Lab):
Lab
I, too, congratulate Rhona Brankin on securing this important debate. Like her, I am fondly remembering Margaret Ewing on this occasion. First, I must apolog...
Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con):
Con
I thank and commend Rhona Brankin for securing the debate. It has, after all, been six years since Parliament last debated the issue. I also join the tribute...
The Deputy Presiding Officer:
SNP
The member should wind up.
Mary Scanlon:
Con
Scotland does not fare well on survival rates for breast cancer. We have lower rates than England, Wales, Northern Ireland and almost every other country tha...
Margaret Smith (Edinburgh West) (LD):
LD
I welcome the opportunity to speak, and I thank Rhona Brankin for securing the debate. Given her experience of breast cancer, there is no more inspirational ...
Margo MacDonald (Lothians) (Ind):
Ind
I, too, thank Rhona Brankin for bringing the issue to the Parliament for debate.I state an interest as the patron of the Scottish Breast Cancer Campaign for ...
Rhona Brankin:
Lab
Does the member agree that we also need to look at the link between breast cancer and commonly used drugs in hormone replacement therapy?
Margo MacDonald:
Ind
I could not agree more, having had my own wee lump after trying HRT. However, that is another story. Some ladies in the chamber will probably know aspects of...
Angela Constance (Livingston) (SNP):
SNP
I, too, commend Rhona Brankin for and congratulate her on securing the debate.It appears to me that campaigns to raise awareness of breast cancer or to impro...
Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab):
Lab
I join other members in thanking Rhona Brankin for securing this important debate, in the 21st year of the NHS breast screening service. I remember Professor...
The Minister for Public Health and Sport (Shona Robison):
SNP
I welcome the debate and thank Rhona Brankin for bringing it to the chamber. I thank the member and others for their kind comments about Margaret Ewing. We r...
Mary Scanlon:
Con
I take the point that the minister made on waiting times. We are talking about the waiting time from referral to treatment. Will she confirm that treatment w...
Shona Robison:
SNP
As Richard Simpson said, the SIGN guidelines for breast cancer recommend the immediate offer of breast reconstruction to all appropriate patients, but we are...
Meeting closed at 17:52.