§ Mr. FlynnTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the reasons for the disparities in life expectancy for those suffering from breast cancer in(a) the UK, (b) France and (c) the USA. [29128]
§ Mr. BoatengWe are very concerned about the incidence of breast cancer in the United Kingdom and that so many women die from this condition. Despite the volume of research into breast cancer both here and abroad, we do not have definitive answers on the reasons for this. We do know that contributory factors include diet, lifestyle and hormonal (eg late menarche, childlessness) and hereditary factors.
There are substantial international variations in recorded survival rates, but these may reflect in part differences in factors such as varying levels of completeness of cancer registration. International comparisons are also potentially misleading because only a limited number of countries, including the UK, have comprehensive cancer registration systems. In the United States of America, only 12 per cent. of the population is covered. It is difficult to establish conclusive links between, for instance, treatment and survival rates when data on other factors which may influence the eventual outcome are lacking.
Clearly, we want to do all we can to ensure that all women with breast cancer receive the best possible treatment to maximise outcomes. This is why we have made clear our commitment to improving cancer services across the board. We have already made an extra £10 million available for breast cancer services. This will help speed access to diagnosis and treatment as a first step towards reducing waiting times, and improving specialist breast cancer services to ensure that women are diagnosed quickly and receive the best possible treatment.