Sir John Whittingdale attended the reception on International Womens Day, on screenings for breast cancer by the charity Breast Cancer Now.
He learned that a third of all breast cancers in England are found through the national screening programme, and it plays a key part in the early detection of breast cancer, with stage 1 and 2 breast cancer making up 90 per cent of diagnoses made through screening.
John said:
“It is very concerning that, in my constituency, only 62.9% attended their breast screening when invited. Whilst this is a similar figure to the rest of England, we should do better.
It is vital that, if we are to improve cancer outcomes and reduce the number of women living with un-diagnosed breast cancer who are not getting the necessary treatment, that our screening programme sees a higher uptake.
I encourage all my constituents who are invited to make sure they attend”.
