Melanie Sturtevant, associate director of policy, evidence and influencing, at Breast Cancer Now, said:
“It’s hugely disappointing that the first annual report from the National Audit of Metastatic (secondary) Breast Cancer (NAoMe) has been unable to deliver a comprehensive picture due to shockingly incomplete data, when accurate figures are the critical foundation needed to improve the lives of people with this incurable disease.
“It’s unacceptable that people with secondary breast cancer are still not consistently counted – over a decade after it was made mandatory to collect this data in England, and three years since the audit was announced in England and Wales.
“Some insights into the care provided to people with secondary breast cancer are captured in the report, but due to the absence of complete data from the NHS the report falls short of providing the nationwide picture we need. This includes vital insight around their care by a multi-disciplinary team (MDT), contact with an expert clinical nurse specialist (CNS) and access to treatments, to help plan tailored services and care.
“The report recommends that the NHS improves the recording of breast cancer recurrence in England and Wales through education and reviewing processes, and this must be acted upon. However, after so many years of little progress it’s clear that governments and NHS must do more, urgently, to support Trusts and Health Boards to capture this data.
“While individual NHS Trusts, cancer alliances and health boards must review their results and identify actions needed, with the NHS workforce already so overstretched, the necessary resource must be put in place by governments and NHS, along with a clear way to measure progress.
“People with secondary breast cancer have no time to wait, and we owe it to them to speed up progress to ensure they receive the tailored care and treatment they deserve.”
ENDS