Melanie Sturtevant associate director of policy, evidence and influencing at Breast Cancer Now says:
“This latest report from the National Audit of Metastatic Breast Cancer (NAoMe) highlights significant gaps in data and worrying variations in care for people with metastatic breast cancer in England and Wales.
“Behind every number in this report is a person living with this incurable disease, yet it can only provide part of the picture as incomplete reporting in the NHS means too many people with metastatic breast cancer are still not counted in national data.
“For as long as people are missed from this data, their needs can’t be seen, understood or planned for in service provision. Meaning we can’t close gaps in care or get the right treatment and support to those who need it.
“But there’s a clear opportunity to fix this. England’s National Cancer Plan commits to defining and counting recurrent cancers, starting with metastatic breast cancer, by the end of 2026. With that deadline fast approaching, we are urgently calling on the UK Government to deliver on its commitment with a clear plan on how this data will be used to improve care for people with metastatic breast cancer.
"Alongside this, the Welsh Government must also commit to routinely collecting data on diagnosis, treatment and support for all people with metastatic breast cancer in Wales within its upcoming National Cancer Strategy.
“The report also suggests worrying variation in care across England and Wales, but again, incomplete reporting means we don’t have the full picture, highlighting the urgent need for better data collection. Where you live should not affect the care you receive, and breast units and NHS decisionmakers must use this report to take action.
“Breast Cancer Now is committed to shifting the dial on metastatic breast cancer so that everyone living with this incurable disease is counted, seen and receives the best possible treatment and care. We won’t stop pushing until that happens.”
ENDS
Notes to editor:
Recurrent breast cancer is the term used when breast cancer has come back. Sometimes breast cancer cells can spread from the primary cancer in the breast to other parts of the body This is called metastatic breast cancer.
When metastatic (also known as secondary) breast cancer is diagnosed at the same time as the primary breast cancer or before the primary breast cancer has been discovered it is referred to as ‘de novo’ (which means ‘new’) metastatic breast cancer.