Manchester Withington MP Jeff Smith met with Breast Cancer Care in Parliament recently to pledge their support to the charity’s campaign to end second-rate care for people with incurable secondary breast cancer.

Following Secondary Breast Cancer Awareness Day on Saturday 13 October, Jeff attended Breast Cancer Care’s event hosted by the All Party Parliamentary Group on Cancer – a cross-party group raising the profile of breast cancer issues within parliament.

With Freedom of Information data from the charity revealing almost three quarters (72%) of NHS Trusts and Health Boards across England, Scotland and Wales are not providing a dedicated nurse for people living with incurable breast cancer, Breast Cancer Care is calling for everyone to have access to the specialist support they need.¹

Jeff met women living with incurable breast cancer and heard about how specialist nursing and support can dramatically improve the quality of life of people with the disease.

Speaking at the event, Jeff said:

“It is shocking that so many people living with incurable breast cancer are not receiving the specialist support they need, like access to a dedicated nurse.

“I am calling on the Government to create a Secondary Support Package to ensure that everyone living with incurable breast cancer has access to vital support from their diagnosis to help them live well.”

Gunes Kalkan, Head of Evidence, Policy and Campaigns at Breast Cancer Care, says:

“We are extremely grateful to Jeff for joining us to mark Secondary Breast Cancer Awareness Day and show his support for our campaign to improve care for people with incurable secondary breast cancer.

“We are calling on all UK Governments to create a Secondary Support Package to ensure specialist and ongoing support for everyone with incurable breast cancer. Funding must also be made available to recruit and train the urgently needed clinical nurse specialists, starting with a commitment in the NHS England Long Term Plan published next month.”