Lobular Breast Cancer

John Milne Excerpts

Tuesday 10th December 2024 Westminster Hall

[John Milne (Horsham) (LD)]

I thank the hon. Member for Dulwich and West Norwood (Helen Hayes) for raising this vital issue. Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer death for women worldwide, and many, if not all, Members will know somebody who has faced the frightening prospect of breast cancer treatment, which is unfortunately all too common and impacts the lives of millions, whether directly or indirectly. What is fortunate is the progress in detection and treatment, which has provided many patients with positive outlooks and a healthy future life with their loved ones.

Sadly, this prospect is often not afforded to the 15% of breast cancer sufferers diagnosed with invasive lobular cancer. Survival prospects for those with ILC can be relatively good, but only for those who are diagnosed early, before the cancer has spread. I repeat the calls of other Members and Breast Cancer Now to publish the findings of the UK national cancer screening review into breast cancer risk stratification. If improvements are made so that we can detect more elusive forms of breast cancer, tens of thousands of lives could be saved. However, improved detection is not enough by itself. Women diagnosed with ILC face another issue: the treatments they are provided are not tailored or specific to their cancer. In short, they are treated for a disease they do not have.

One of those women, as has been mentioned, is Dr Susan Michaelis, who lives in my constituency of Horsham, where I met her earlier this year. Susan is an incredible woman who has campaigned tirelessly on invasive lobular cancer treatment and research. She was diagnosed with lobular cancer in 2013, but the treatment she then received was designed for ductal cancer, which is the most common form of breast cancer. As a result, Susan’s condition evolved and became resistant to the treatments now available.

Someone less determined might have given up looking for answers, but instead Susan went out and started the Lobular Moon Shot Project and, yes, I have already planted my Susan Michaelis rose. She met research experts to build an idea of the cost of research into the basic biology of invasive lobular cancer in the hope of improving outcomes for those yet to be diagnosed. The Institute of Cancer Research has deemed that £20 million is enough to make significant progress, and Rob Clarke of the Manchester Breast Centre will head up that work in conjunction with world leading experts. That is all agreed.

Since then, Susan and the Lobular Moon Shot Project have lobbied MPs and Government Departments. Hundreds of MPs have supported the application for funding. In the last Parliament, the number was 247; there have already been almost 200 in the current term, and I am sure that many more will join the call. The team at the project should be commended for all their hard work and amazing, ceaseless energy.

Given the Government’s recent announcements about taking a firm business approach to funding within Departments, research into lobular cancer makes for a strong business case as well. Breast Cancer Now research shows that the cost of breast cancer to the UK economy is £2.6 billion. That is set to rise to £3.6 billion by 2034. Ongoing cancer treatment is expensive, with each patient requiring approximately £10,000 a year, whereas the £20 million research request equates to £240 per lobular cancer patient over the next 10 years.

Early detection and better treatment can reduce the overall time the NHS needs to support patients. Put simply, research into lobular cancer saves both lives and money. If the human arguments are not enough for the Government to commit to this vital research, then let us talk about the money. The previous Government included lobular cancer research in their women’s health strategy for England 2024 and acknowledged that there was an urgent, unmet clinical need. I ask the new Secretary of State to renew that commitment and to fund the Lobular Moon Shot Project’s call for research, which will enable the NHS to offer specific treatment to lobular cancer patients and end the one-size-fits-all approach. Dr Susan Michaelis and the lobular ladies hope that they will be the last generation to go through the experience of insufficient treatment and poor outcomes, and I hope that this Government can make that a reality.