Breast Cancer

Baroness Merron Excerpts

Monday 15th December 2025 Lords Chamber

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health and Social Care (Baroness Merron) (Lab)]

My Lords, too many women are dying of breast cancer. Even with a national screening programme, tragically, 11,500 die from breast cancer each year in the UK. AgeX, a large and important research study, is investigating the effects of routine screening of women over 70. Results are expected in 2027. The UK National Screening Committee has been closely involved throughout, and we will use the findings as soon as they are available.

[Baroness Hodge of Barking (Lab)]

I thank my noble friend the Minister for her Answer. She is right that a common cause of death in women is breast cancer, but age is a primary risk. One in three breast cancers occurs in women aged over 70 but, shockingly, nearly half of breast cancer deaths occur in women over 70. Yet the NHS stops inviting and encouraging women to have a mammogram at 70. Given the evidence, can the Minister bring the review of the age limit to a close more urgently than 2027, stop the discrimination against older women and ensure that women continue to be invited to have a mammogram after the age of 70?

[Baroness Merron (Lab)]

My noble friend makes a very powerful case; I am grateful to her for doing so. The UK National Screening Committee continuously monitors emerging evidence through horizon scanning and maintains active engagement with international peers. Should robust evidence regarding the extension of breast screening age thresholds become available, the committee will look at it right away. In the meantime, a suite of public-facing information communicates to women aged 71 and over that they can have screening every three years if they wish. I realise that does not quite meet my noble friend’s request, but I hope it indicates movement to support women aged 71 and over.

[The Earl of Effingham (Con)]

My Lords, women over the age of 70 are entitled to receive free breast screening every three years. However, for those who are digitally excluded, both awareness of this and the practical process of making an appointment can present real barriers. What steps is the NHS taking to ensure that women over 70 are aware of this right, and how is access to screening being made easier for those who struggle with digital access?

[Baroness Merron (Lab)]

Part of the 10-year plan, as we move from analogue to digital, will be ensuring that digital exclusion will not be a barrier. As I mentioned in response to my noble friend, it is indeed the case that women aged 71 and over can have screening every three years, and that can happen by women calling their local breast screening service to ask for an appointment. In other words, analogue is still possible, not just digital.

[Lord Kakkar (CB)]

My Lords, I draw the House’s attention to my registered interest as chairman of King’s Health Partners. Is the Minister content that sufficient resources are applied to the molecular characterisation of screen-detected breast cancer in such a way that those over the age of 70 who have breast cancer detected are appropriately treated?

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[Baroness Merron (Lab)]

I should be able to answer, I admit, but I would rather be honest with the noble Lord: I would prefer to write to him because of the specific nature of his question. I am content with the role of the research trial and that we are now harnessing AI tools through the EDITH trial backed by some £11 million of government support. Using cross-cutting AI tools in respect of the breast cancer screening pathway will be of great assistance.

[Baroness Burt of Solihull (LD)]

My Lords, I feel quite shocked after the question from the noble Baroness, Lady Hodge. I recently went for my final invited mammogram, so I did a little research. I did not come up with that figure, and I wish I had because it changes everything I was going to say; it is very important. People who do not necessarily enjoy the wonders of the world of AI and all these other things do not know all this. They are told, “Right, you’re over 70, you’re pretty much all right now”. Some people do not get any advice and, given what the noble Baroness, Lady Hodge, said, we should review this as a matter of urgency.

[Baroness Merron (Lab)]

I hope I have outlined to your Lordships’ House how the AgeX trial will greatly assist. Clinical evidence, as and when it is available—it is sought actively—is acted on by the National Screening Committee. I emphasise to the noble Baroness and the noble Earl who raised it previously that, as I said to my noble friend, NHS England is producing public-facing information to communicate to women aged 71 and over that they can have screening every three years if they so wish, and I hope that women will take that up if they so wish.

[Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean (Lab)]

My Lords, I was unaware that women over the age of 70 can have screening every three years, and I am very grateful to have heard that today. Given the ages in the House of Lords, might it not be possible to do some screening of women here for breast cancer? What are the statistics for death from breast cancer in women over 70? How serious is the issue in terms of the number of fatalities?

[Baroness Merron (Lab)]

Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers, and more than 50,000 were diagnosed with it in 2023. My noble friend Lady Hodge gave further information. On the point about offering screening here, my strong suspicion is that it will not be practical and it is better for people to go to their community. I will speak to my ministerial colleague, Ashley Dalton MP, in whose portfolio this falls. My recollection is that it is in letters or advice, but I want to check. It should be in there but, if it is not, perhaps it could be, so I will put forward my noble friend’s suggestion.

[Baroness Butler-Sloss (CB)]

My Lords, up to what age will it be possible?

[Baroness Merron (Lab)]

I do not know if I dare comment about vested interest, but why not? I am not aware that there is a final limit. It is on request.

[Baroness Manzoor (Con)]

My Lords—

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[Baroness Manzoor (Con)]

My Lords, I welcome the Government’s strategy to have a dedicated cancer plan, but can the Minister say when this plan will be published, particularly in relation to breast screening? Will she give an indication of the uptake rate by women from disadvantaged backgrounds and women from ethnic minorities? The uptake rates are very low. Will these also be considered in this national plan?

[Baroness Merron (Lab)]

The answer to that latter question is yes, and the noble Baroness will not have to wait too long to see the national cancer plan.

[Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Lab)]

My Lords, as a breast cancer survivor, I cannot estimate enough the benefit of breast screening leading to early diagnosis. In that respect, I urge my noble friend the Minister to talk not only to her ministerial colleagues in the devolved Administrations but to oncologists within the Department of Health to ensure that we get an earlier date for publication than 2027. Women, particularly those over 70, want reassurance about the prevalence or non-prevalence of cancer within their body.

[Baroness Merron (Lab)]

We certainly do speak with the devolved Governments, as my noble friend highlights. As I have said, this whole area is guided by the scientific and independent advice of the UK National Screening Committee, which is closely involved in the AgeX trial to which I have referred. I assure my noble friend that action will be taken as quickly as possible.