Government partners with UK’s largest breast cancer charity

The UK government has launched a three-year partnership with Breast Cancer Now to improve breast cancer awareness and support for women during and after treatment. 

The Department of Health and Social Care said it is the first partnership to help deliver its Renewed Women’s Health Strategy.

Women will receive practical information on checking their breasts, recognising changes and seeking advice sooner, with a particular focus on underserved areas.

They will also receive information after treatment about possible signs of breast cancer returning or spreading and how to maintain a healthy lifestyle following treatment.

Healthcare professionals will receive additional training and a practical toolkit to help them advise women following treatment.

The announcement comes as Breast Cancer Now research found 29 per cent of women in England who regularly check their breasts do not feel confident they would notice a change.

Baroness Merron, minister for women’s health and maternity, said: “Breast cancer survival rates have improved enormously thanks to advances in our understanding of, and ability to treat, this disease, but it is still the case that early diagnosis is vital for each individual’s chances of survival.

“That’s why we need to ensure every woman feels confident checking their breasts, recognising the possible signs of the disease, and getting any new or unusual breast changes checked by a GP.

“The sooner breast cancer is diagnosed, the better the chances of successful treatment, and the more lives we will save.

“As part of our Renewed Women’s Health Strategy, we’re joining forces with Breast Cancer Now to get trusted information directly to the women who need this support.

“That is exactly what the Strategy set out to do, listening to women, meeting them where they are and helping them live healthier lives.”

Among women who check less than once a month, 11 per cent said they did so because they did not know what to look for.

One in five UK adults, 20 per cent, also said they were not confident they would know where to find trusted information about breast cancer if they had concerns.

One in seven women in the UK will be diagnosed with breast cancer during their lifetime and around 11,500 women die from the disease each year.

Rachel Franklin, deputy chief executive at Breast Cancer Now, said: “We’re hugely proud to be the first partner of the Renewed Women’s Health Strategy, working with the Department of Health and Social Care to deliver our shared ambition of supporting women to live healthy, fulfilling lives. Breast awareness and ensuring women know where to turn for support are crucial to achieving this.

“By joining forces we’re driving progress faster and saving lives. We know early detection is vital, with almost 100 per cent of people diagnosed at stage 1 surviving for five years or more, compared with just 32 per cent at stage 4, when breast cancer has spread and become incurable.

“Together, we’ll tackle the challenges in front of us and ensure all women are confident in checking their breasts and recognising changes, know where to turn to and get answers, throughout treatment and beyond, equipped with the vital information and support they need at every stage.

“Better serving women means meeting them where they are, listening to what they need, and ensuring every woman gets the information and support to spot breast cancer sooner.

“From the first check to treatment and beyond, we’ll be there.”