The Government has announced a partnership with Breast Cancer Now, to better support women to spot the signs of breast cancer.
This is the first partnership to help deliver the Renewed Women's Health Strategy.
In Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the Department of Health and Social Care is to partner with the UK’s largest breast cancer charity over the next three years. The partnership will give women practical information to build confidence in checking their breasts, recognising changes, and seeking advice sooner. Support will be particularly targeted in underserved areas.
Recent research from Breast Cancer Now has revealed that 29 per cent of women in England who regularly check their breasts do not feel confident to notice a change, while 11 per cent of those checking less than once a month say it’s because they do not know what to look out for.
20 per cent of UK adults also say they are not confident they would know where to find trusted information about breast cancer if they had concerns.
As part of the partnership, patients will also be provided with better support after their treatment, including clear information to understand the possible signs of breast cancer returning or spreading and how to live a healthy lifestyle post breast cancer treatment.
Healthcare professionals will receive additional training, alongside a practical toolkit for healthcare teams.
Minister for Women’s Health and Maternity, Baroness Merron, 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."
Rachael 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 5 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."
