Shropshire's breast cancer care praised
The number of women diagnosed with breast cancer has risen by almost a fifth in a decade, yet there has been no extra investment in nursing, a charity has said.
Breast Cancer Care said the lack of specialist nurses is impacting on patient care across the country.
However Betty Jenkinson, one of the founding members of the Shropshire branch of the Pink Ribbon Breast Cancer Support Group, said this is not the case in Shropshire.
Mrs Jenkinson, 75, from Madeley, in Telford, was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1991 and in February this year was re-diagnosed.
She said: "In Telford's Princess Royal Hospital there are lots of amazing breast cancer nurses.
"As a patient if there is ever a worry or question I have to ask they are always at the end of a phone and making an appointment to see them is not difficult either.
"They are all great and I could not fault the care.
"They do see you as soon as possible."
New cases of breast cancer in England have risen by 18 per cent in 10 years, from 38,153 in 2003 to 44,831 in 2013.
Meanwhile, the number of specialist breast cancer nurses has remained around 430 across England since records began in 2007.
Samia al Qadhi, chief executive of Breast Cancer Care, said: "Breast cancer nurses do a fantastic job but they are under more and more pressure to provide the same quality of care with much less time, more responsibilities and many more patients.
"We welcome the Cancer Strategy recommendation that every cancer patient should have access to a specialist nurse, but the next step is how we make that a reality.
"We know NHS England's budgets are tight, but as the number of breast cancer cases rises, action is needed to address this now."
Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women and is also the fastest rising cancer in women after lung cancer.
The number of people living with breast cancer is set to more than double from 691,000 at present to 1.7 million by 2040.
Although 78 per cent of women with breast cancer live for 10 years or more after diagnosis, there are still almost 12,000 deaths a year from the disease.
The Shropshire branch of the Pink Ribbons Breast Cancer Support Group meets on the third Wednesday of each month at Telford's PRH at 7.30pm.
To contact the group call secretary Julie Tipton on 07969 968184, treasurer Betty Jenkinson on (01952) 586898 or chairwoman Carole Knight on (01952) 249685. For more information about breast cancer support go to www.breastcancercare.org.uk or call 0808 8006000.
