Breast Cancer Screening: Women Over 70

Baroness Pitkeathley Excerpts

Tuesday 2nd June 2026 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Blake of Leeds]

To veer away from breast cancer for a moment, one of the most successful programmes I was involved in was working with the local authority and local NHS services to remove the need to see a GP to be referred for lung x-rays. This programme particularly targeted men in disadvantaged areas and, my goodness, it had a huge impact. This is something that needs to be taken seriously. A lot of people, men and women, are averse to going to seek medical help. We need to make available as many opportunities as we possibly can.

[Baroness Pitkeathley (Lab)]

My Lords, since there is a strong hereditary element in breast cancer, what action is being taken to make sure that women who have had cancer ensure that their daughters and granddaughters are rightly tested? Will the Minister acknowledge the information being given out via “The Archers” on this matter at the moment?

[Baroness Blake of Leeds (Lab)]

I wondered when someone was going to mention “The Archers”. My noble friend is referring to BRCA and BRCA2 screening. It is incredibly serious that some people are wary of going through screening because of the possible implications hanging over their children. We all need to work to make that screening more of a possibility. I have to declare that my eldest sister died from breast cancer when she was in her late 50s. It is a dreadful thing to happen to families, and we have to make sure all families who go through this are aware of what they need to do and that the information is as widely available as possible.