Breakthrough Breast Cancer survey finds less than half of Scotland knows about secondary breast cancer
A cancer charity has launched an awareness campaign against a form of the disease it says less than half the population of Scotland know about despite it killing 1,000 women every year.
Speaking at the start of breast cancer awareness month, October 1-31, Breakthrough Breast Cancer’s Scotland director James Jopling said it was worrying how little the public knew of secondary breast cancer, also known as metastatic breast cancer.
A survey conducted for the charity found only 48% of people identified it correctly as being when breast cancer has spread to another part of the body and cannot yet be cured.
Around a fifth of respondents had no idea what the disease was, a small proportion thought it was not serious and one in three believe it to be when breast cancer has been treated and has returned to the breast.
The YouGov survey coincides with the launch of the charity’s new vision to Stop Breast Cancer For Good, which centres on a stronger focus into the causes of and treatments for secondary breast cancer.
It is worrying that the public is unaware of how serious breast cancer really is – in order for us to put an end it and ensure that we stop the disease from taking the lives of our mothers, wives, daughters and sisters it’s crucial that we rally up as much support as possible
Jopling said: “It is worrying that the public is unaware of how serious breast cancer really is – in order for us to put an end it and ensure that we stop the disease from taking the lives of our mothers, wives, daughters and sisters it’s crucial that we rally up as much support as possible.
“There is so much more to be done in order to stop breast cancer for good, and we’re finally at a point in our work where we can almost see the finishing line.
“This doesn’t have to be a disease that kills, however without more support, more awareness, more funding and more research breast cancer will continue to be one of the Scotland’s biggest killers.“
In addition to raising health awareness to help improve prevention, Breakthrough Breast Cancer, which will invest at least £100 million in research over the next six years, is focussing on how it can stop breast cancer from spreading to other organs where the disease can no longer be cured and treatments are very limited.
Mani Coulter, who lives with secondary breast cancer and who was chosen to take part in a clinical trial for the drug Kadcyla, said: “I’m one of the lucky ones – my doctor referred me to take part in a new drug trial when my breast cancer returned and spread.
“I’ve been on Kadcyla for two years and both my family and I are so relieved that the drug is working for me and my cancer is treatable.
“I’m so pleased that more is being done to campaign for a better access to drugs – we’ve seen a great amount of pressure forced onto both the government and drug companies recently urging them to reach a better compromise for drug prices.”
This breast cancer awareness month Breakthrough is urging everybody who shares its belief that breast cancer can, and must, be stopped to join the movement today and make a real difference. Visit breakthrough.org.uk/stop for more information.
