Breakthrough Breast Cancer and Breast Cancer Care have teamed up with five hospitals across the UK to identify important changes needed to improve services for people diagnosed with secondary breast cancer.
Health on Female First
Of the 50,000 women and 400 men diagnosed with breast cancer each year in the UK, it is still not known exactly how many of these patients will go on to develop secondary breast cancer – cancer that has spread beyond the breast or armpit to distant parts of the body.
Secondary breast cancer cannot be cured but it can be treated and controlled, sometimes for a number of years.
Through patient interviews and questionnaires collected over the past year, each trust has identified the specific issues which need to be addressed in order to improve the quality of service and care for those living with secondary breast cancer in their area.
Catherine Wood, Senior Involvement Officer at Breakthrough Breast Cancer said: “Patient engagement is at the heart of this initiative; we hope that by joining forces with Breast Cancer Care, we can make a real difference to the lives of people living with secondary breast cancer, and the friends and families that surround them.
“With the introduction of increasing numbers of new and improved treatments, many people can live for months and sometimes years with secondary breast cancer, but they do have very specific needs. In order to ensure their needs are met, and that the best possible care is provided, it is imperative that the voices of these patients are heard.”
Sylvia Ward, UK-Wide Services Manager at Breast Cancer Care said: “We know from our specialist work in this field that people living with a secondary breast cancer diagnosis need care and support to meet their complex needs. Many tell us they feel invisible and ignored. Depression and anxiety can be common experiences amongst this group. They may be dealing with ongoing side effects of treatment like chronic fatigue, are living with uncertainty about the future and face difficult decisions about end-of-life care.
“Despite this, so many women tell us that the support they had when diagnosed and treated for primary breast cancer just isn’t there after a secondary breast cancer diagnosis and the Secondary Breast Cancer Pledge aims to address this.”
Today marks the launch of the first official Secondary Breast Cancer Pledge from the team at The Christie in Manchester, who have identified a range of improvement goals within their service that they have pledged to address. To name just one, the team have committed to expand upon existing work to deliver intravenous treatments closer to patients’ homes – within community clinics across Manchester – in order to reduce travelling burdens for both patients and their friends and families.
Mary Jennings, 60, has been living with secondary breast cancer for two years:
“Being involved in the Secondary Breast Cancer Pledge has given me the opportunity to help make improvements to my treatment and care at The Christie, such as speeding up the check in for outpatient appointments and ensuring patients know what they can do while waiting to be seen.
“Waiting for appointments, particularly results, can be very stressful when you have secondaries so I am really pleased that I am helping to make sure other people with secondary breast cancer are able to have the best experience possible.”
Director of Nursing and Quality at The Christie, Jackie Bird said: “Our patients are at the heart of what we do and are perfectly placed to help us make improvements where they’re needed. As an organisation we are constantly looking at ways we can boost our cancer treatment, research and education and enhance the care we offer to patients.
“Listening to patients’ experiences is invaluable and that’s why this project has been so important. We look forward to implementing the areas highlighted by the programme and I would like to thank our Christie breast cancer nurses who have worked so hard over the past year on this.”
The Department of Health-funded programme builds on Breakthrough Breast Cancer’s Service Pledge for Breast Cancer, which has revolutionised expectations for about 30,000 breast cancer patients at more than 50 hospitals across the UK.
The other hospitals who will be making pledges this year are St Bartholomew's in London, York and Scarborough hospitals, and Musgrove Park Hospital in Taunton, Somerset. The programme will also be rolled out to a further ten hospitals over the next two years.
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