East Midlands MEP urges better awareness of breast cancer

East Midlands Conservative MEP, Emma McClarkin, is this week urging patient groups to help improve breast cancer outcomes.
 
The call came as Miss McClarkin spoke at a European Patient Advocacy Group meeting on advanced breast cancer, which aims to examine the impact of advanced breast cancer on women and society.
 
Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers to affect women, and one in six women first diagnosed with breast cancer will already be at an advanced stage. Despite this, overall awareness of breast cancer across Europe is low, and whilst advances have been made, there are still unacceptable inequalities in cancer care between countries in the EU.
 
Breast cancer is an issue close to Miss McClarkin’s heart as her mother died of the disease at the age of 48. Commenting on the conference and campaign, Miss McClarkin said:
 
“Fighting breast cancer is a very personal cause for me. I want to do everything I can as an MEP to help women across Europe to cope with this devastating cancer, as well as urging best practice in raising awareness of it for all ages.
 
“Although a third of women diagnosed with breast cancer are over 70, it is incredibly important that more is done to raise awareness in all women, regardless of their age.
 
“I’m very pleased to have been able to speak at the European Patient Advocacy Group meeting in order to put this point – and others – across to them.”