Chamber
Plenary, 30 Sep 2009
30 Sep 2009 · S3 · Plenary
Item of business
Breast Cancer Awareness Month
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 remember her at this time.
Breast cancer awareness month gives us a real opportunity to highlight the actions that the Scottish Government and others are taking to raise awareness of breast cancer and improve cancer care across Scotland. As many members said, breast cancer is the most common cancer among women. Its incidence continues to rise—it is up 9 per cent over the last decade. In part, this is due to increased detection through the breast screening programme, but it may also be because of a higher prevalence of known risk factors and Scotland's ageing population. I will come on to say something on the known risk factors. On a positive note, breast cancer survival rates are improving, with five-year survival now standing at more than 84 per cent. That said, it remains important that we empower women with the knowledge to mitigate the risks of breast cancer while continuing to support innovation in treatment.
I turn to Mary Scanlon's comments on survival rates. We have to be cautious when comparing the figures for Scotland with those of other countries. As she will appreciate, the statistics that we gather, including on cancer survival rates, are accurate and good. I cast no aspersions on the statistics gathering of other countries, but making comparisons between countries as she did can be akin to comparing apples and pears. That is not to say that those statistics are not of relevance, but they should come with a bit of a health warning.
Mary Scanlon also raised the issue of waiting times. Obviously, much progress has been made around the 62-day target—performance was over 98 per cent in the last four reported quarters—but, as she rightly said, more work has to be done on the 31-day target. That said, performance in the last quarter was 87.6 per cent. More has to be done, but it is important to recognise that we are going in the right direction.
As Rhona Brankin said, men, too, need to be aware of the signs to look out for. There are around 20 new cases of male breast cancer in Scotland each year. The figure for men is significantly lower than for women, but it is equally important to ensure that men recognise the symptoms and that they are not overlooked in discussions about this disease.
Breast cancer awareness month gives us a real opportunity to highlight the actions that the Scottish Government and others are taking to raise awareness of breast cancer and improve cancer care across Scotland. As many members said, breast cancer is the most common cancer among women. Its incidence continues to rise—it is up 9 per cent over the last decade. In part, this is due to increased detection through the breast screening programme, but it may also be because of a higher prevalence of known risk factors and Scotland's ageing population. I will come on to say something on the known risk factors. On a positive note, breast cancer survival rates are improving, with five-year survival now standing at more than 84 per cent. That said, it remains important that we empower women with the knowledge to mitigate the risks of breast cancer while continuing to support innovation in treatment.
I turn to Mary Scanlon's comments on survival rates. We have to be cautious when comparing the figures for Scotland with those of other countries. As she will appreciate, the statistics that we gather, including on cancer survival rates, are accurate and good. I cast no aspersions on the statistics gathering of other countries, but making comparisons between countries as she did can be akin to comparing apples and pears. That is not to say that those statistics are not of relevance, but they should come with a bit of a health warning.
Mary Scanlon also raised the issue of waiting times. Obviously, much progress has been made around the 62-day target—performance was over 98 per cent in the last four reported quarters—but, as she rightly said, more work has to be done on the 31-day target. That said, performance in the last quarter was 87.6 per cent. More has to be done, but it is important to recognise that we are going in the right direction.
As Rhona Brankin said, men, too, need to be aware of the signs to look out for. There are around 20 new cases of male breast cancer in Scotland each year. The figure for men is significantly lower than for women, but it is equally important to ensure that men recognise the symptoms and that they are not overlooked in discussions about this disease.
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.