Steve Brine attended a Breast Cancer Care event in Parliament on Monday 25th January to show his support for black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) women living with breast cancer.
The event marked the launch of a new report by Breast Cancer Care, which highlights that BAME women do not always get the support they need after they have finished their treatment for breast cancer.
Funded by the Big Lottery Fund, and in collaboration with King's College London, the charity undertook a research project to understand how services that support people after breast cancer treatment can be culturally adapted.
Every year around 58,000 people are diagnosed with breast cancer in the UK – that's the equivalent of one person every 10 minutes. Many of these women can feel lost and unable to return to normal when they have completed their hospital-based treatment. Breast Cancer Care's research found that BAME women have additional needs, many of which are not being met.
These can include isolation, due to the stigma of cancer in some communities, as well as language barriers. Some services do not offer support that is suitable for all, for example by offering lymphoedema sleeves in different skin tones or healthy lifestyle information that takes different religions into account.
Steve Brine said: "I'm very happy to be showing my support for this important issue. It is vital that everyone, regardless of their ethnicity or social background, gets the support they need to live well after their breast cancer treatment.
"It is important that breast units across the country are aware of Breast Cancer Care's important research and that their support for people living with the disease is inclusive to all backgrounds."
Breast Cancer Care's Moving Forward course is designed to support people once they complete breast cancer treatment in a way that is specific to their needs. The sessions cover topics such as healthy living, managing side effects of treatment, and spotting the signs and symptoms of a possible recurrence.
David Crosby, Director of Services and Engagement at Breast Cancer Care, says: "We want to thank Steve Brine for showing their support for our work. We believe that everyone should get the support they need to live well after they have finished their treatment for breast cancer.
"We know from the women we work with that finishing treatment does not necessarily mean you can just go back to normal. That's why we run our Moving Forward service to help people during this potentially tough time.
"Our research has found that some people, particularly from black, Asian and other minority ethnic communities, can find themselves without support that is adapted to their needs. We urge all providers of support to ensure that their services are inclusive for all."
More information ...
Find out more about Move Forward here
Download the report
