Breast Cancer (Hansard, 31 March 1994)

§ Ms Primarolo
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what preliminary reports she has received in respect of the areas of research into breast cancer being conducted by the United Kingdom Co-ordinating Committee on Cancer Research; and when she expects the final results.

§ Mr. Sackville
The United Kingdom Health Departments, along with the Medical Research Council, which receives it grant in aid from the office of my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, and the two major cancer research charities—Imperial Cancer Research Fund and Cancer Research Campaign—are currently funding four studies into breast cancer screening costing some £5 million over five years. These are examining:
The effects of screening women annually from the age of 40;

The effects of screening more frequently than every three years in women aged 50 and over;

The effect of taking two, X-ray views of each breast of women screened instead of one view; and

Alternative methods of treating some of the very small cancers detected on screening.
The trials are being co-ordinated by the United Kingdom Co-ordinating Committee on Cancer Research. The UKCCCR does not produce preliminary reports on the trials.
Each of the studies will reach completion at different times, and it is expected that full results will be made available by the UKCCCR.
Each study has been recruiting patients for some time and we expect results from at least two of the studies within the next two years.
Departmental support, estimated to be some £400,000 in 1994–95, is currently planned until August 1998.

§ Ms Primarolo
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps she has taken to ensure good uptake of breast screening invitations among ethnic minority groups.

§ Mr. Sackville
It is for health authorities to monitor uptake of breast cancer screening among specific groups, and to take action to improve uptake where it is shown to be needed.

§ Ms Primarolo
To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether women who are concerned about breast cancer may self-refer to specialised units; and what research her Department has undertaken into the possible benefits of self-referral.

§ Mr. Sackville
Specialised cancer units receive referrals from general practitioners and from non-specialist units. It is most unlikely that they would accept a woman who refers herself. The Department has not undertaken any research into the possible benefits of self-referral.

§ Ms Primarolo
To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many specialised breast cancer units there are, by region.

§ Mr. Sackville
This information is not available centrally.
It is for local health authorities in consultation with hospitals and trusts to determine the organisation of cancer services to meet the needs of the local population.

§ Ms Primarolo
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research her Department is funding into(a) environmental and (b) social causes of breast cancer.
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§ Mr. Sackville
None.

§ Ms Primarolo
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps she is taking to ensure that the North West, North East and South West Thames and Mersey regions achieve the target for breast cancer screenings.

§ Mr. Sackville
The breast screening programme is achieving its national average uptake target rate of 70 per cent., including in Mersey and South West Thames regions. To address under-achieving in specific areas, health authorities are encouraged to set local targets for improvement in contracts.