Jeff Smith, MP for Manchester Withington, showed his support for women and men living with breast cancer this October by attending the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Breast Cancer’s (APPGBC) Reception in parliament.

More people are developing breast cancer than ever before – with 50,000 women and around 350 men diagnosed every year in the UK – and around 11,500 patients lose their lives to the disease each year.

The APPGBC reception was held in support of October’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month, to keep the issues that matter most to breast cancer patients high on the parliamentary agenda.  The APPGBC also announced the launch of a new parliamentary inquiry into geographical inequalities in breast cancer services across England.

Currently, while breast cancer patients should receive the same high level of treatment across England, unfortunately this is often not the case. Many patients receive varying levels of care depending on where in the country they live, with inequalities throughout the patient pathway, from early diagnosis through to treatment and survival.

Jeff said: “The UK has some of the best cancer care institutions in the world, including the Christie Hospital in my constituency.

However there is too much variation across the UK so the APPGBC’s inquiry into geographical inequalities in breast cancer services is vital.

I’m looking forward to seeing the findings of the inquiry and ultimately finding ways to improve care for all patients, wherever they live.”

Baroness Delyth Morgan, Chief Executive at Breast Cancer Now, said:

“It was heartening to see so many MPs, peers, civil servants, healthcare professionals and patients come together to support those affected by breast cancer.

“Breast Cancer Awareness Month may have drawn to a close, but our work to save lives and to improve patients’ experiences across the country must now continue.

“We are so grateful to Jeff Smith for his continued support both for breast cancer research and for women and men living with this dreadful disease.”