Breast cancer awareness needs to be improved amongst older women, report warns

New recommendations to improve the inequalities in the treatment, services and support experienced by older breast cancer patients have been backed by leading charities.

The report, which has been published by The All Party Parliamentary Group on Breast Cancer (APPGBC) aims to tackle the problems and barriers preventing older women having the access they need, to the breast cancer services available in the NHS.

Steve Brine, MP for Winchester and Chandlers Ford and co-chair for the group, said: “It is deeply concerning that older breast cancer patients are being denied access to the full treatment and support options available purely as a result of their age. By learning from those at the heart of the issue we have gained a clear picture of these barriers and what must be done to eradicate them.”

The report has been backed by Breakthrough Breast Cancer, Breast Cancer Care and Breast Cancer Campaign, who said in a joint statement: “No one’s age should dictate their access to the best possible treatments and care. As the UK’s leading breast cancer charities, we have joined forces with the APPGBC to tackle the long suspected issue of age inequality amongst breast cancer patients.

“For most women, getting older is the biggest risk factor for developing breast cancer so we must take action to ensure older breast cancer patients receive the same gold standard of care as younger women.”

The report highlighted the special support that older breast cancer patients might require, such as transport from their own home to hospital or their caring commitments for other relatives during their treatment.

The importance of making older women know how to spot the signs of breast cancer and have the earliest possible diagnosis was also emphasised.

Older women have poorer survival rates due to the often late diagnosis of their breast cancer, with research showing that one in five women over 70 do not look touch or feel their own breasts regularly.

The charities continued: “For most women, getting older is the biggest risk factor for developing breast cancer so we must take action to ensure older breast cancer patients receive the same gold standard of care as younger women.

“We are calling on NHS England, Public Health England and Clinical Commissioning Groups to implement these recommendations as soon as possible to ensure older patients are treated as individuals, and not stereotyped by their age.”

The report has also been supported by broadcaster Dame Jenni Murray, who was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2006.

Ms Murray said: “We cannot and must not ignore the experiences of older women with breast cancer. More than half of the women dying from breast cancer across the country are over 70.

“Research and the media have shown us that barriers in gaining access to the same treatments and support services available to younger breast cancer patients are happening in England today.

“I welcome the APPGBC’s report as it presents us with an opportunity to take action and improve the situation for older breast cancer patients, which is urgently needed.”

With over a third of all cancer patients aged 65 and over, the risk of catching breast cancer raises with age, with 340,000 women over the age of 65 currently living with the illness. It is predicted that this number will rise to 1.2 million by 2040.