Official Report 1177KB pdf
The next item of business is a members’ business debate on motion S6M-18752, in the name of Clare Adamson, on Breast Cancer Now awareness day 2025 and wear it pink. The debate will be concluded without any question being put. I invite members who wish to speak in the debate to please press their request-to-speak buttons.
Motion debated,
That the Parliament recognises Breast Cancer Now Awareness Day 2025, which takes place on 24 October, and commends what it sees as the vital work of Breast Cancer Now, which, it understands, is the UK’s leading breast cancer research and support charity; acknowledges what it considers the importance of the annual Wear It Pink initiative, which raises millions of pounds for lifesaving breast cancer research and care, and notes the calls for individuals, workplaces, schools and communities across Scotland to take part and show their support by wearing pink and fundraising on the day; pays special tribute to the late Christina McKelvie MSP, a dear friend and colleague, whose unwavering support for breast cancer awareness, equality and compassion continues to inspire; understands that around 4,700 people in Scotland are diagnosed with breast cancer each year, and that early detection, timely treatment and ongoing support are crucial to improving outcomes; notes the view that there is a need for continued investment in research, improved access to care and increasing awareness of secondary breast cancer, for which, it understands, there is currently no cure, and further notes the view that, by working together, raising awareness and supporting vital initiatives like Wear It Pink, people can make a real difference in the lives of those affected by breast cancer, now and in the future.
15:47
I am delighted to speak in support of the motion recognising Breast Cancer Now awareness day 2025, which takes place on 24 October, and I thank all those members of the Parliament who supported the motion and allowed it to come to the chamber today. I am also delighted to welcome Kira McDiarmid and Jen Hardy from Breast Cancer Now, who are with us in the gallery today. It is wonderful to have them here to mark this important occasion and to enable us to recognise the vital work that they and their colleagues do every day, including in this Parliament. [Applause.]
This day is not just a date in the calendar; it is a day of solidarity, hope and determination in the face of one of the most common and devastating diseases that affect people across Scotland, the United Kingdom and the world.
We commend the vital and tireless work of Breast Cancer Now, the UK’s leading breast cancer research and support charity. Its vision is bold but essential. It is that, by 2050, everyone who is diagnosed with breast cancer will live and be supported to live well. That is not just a mission statement; it is a call to action for all of us—policy makers, researchers, healthcare workers and communities alike. That work matters because breast cancer affects one in seven women in the UK during their lifetime. My sister started her journey in January this year. The issue also matters to men, who often have less awareness of the condition and receive less support after diagnosis, and it matters to the families and friends who work alongside people through diagnosis, treatment, recovery and loss.
One of the most important and powerful initiatives on breast cancer is the wear it pink campaign. Since 2002, it has raised more than £39 million for breast cancer research and care. Each October, people across Scotland and the UK, in schools, workplaces and homes, wear it pink to fundraise and show their support. Many of my colleagues did that last week—I ask that they bring the feather boas back.
In Scotland alone, the wear it pink campaign has raised more than £2.5 million in the past five years. That is an extraordinary contribution, and it shows what can be achieved when people come together with hope and determination. Wear it pink is a simple act, but it sends the powerful message that we are united in this fight. I encourage everyone in the chamber and beyond to get involved. Whether people hold a bake sale or a dress-up day or simply make a donation, every action counts. It is one day, one colour and one powerful message.
Breast cancer affects people in Scotland and across the UK, and it is also a reality that millions more face around the world. Around 4,700 people in Scotland are diagnosed with breast cancer every year, which is more than 12 people every day. Around 25 of those diagnosed each year are men. Globally, breast cancer is the most common cancer, with more than 2.3 million people diagnosed each year, and it leads to more than 685,000 reported deaths worldwide according to the World Health Organization.
Those figures represent far more than numbers; they reflect the lives of families, friends, colleagues and communities who are impacted by breast cancer every single day. They remind us why our gathering to wear it pink in the Parliament is so important. We came together in the garden lobby and the Burns room of the Parliament last week to wear it pink and show solidarity with Breast Cancer Now. It was wonderful to speak to survivors about their journey. The sense of unity among members, advocates, patients and families standing side by side demonstrates the strength of the campaign and the determination behind it.
We have made progress. Thanks to investment in research and early detection, the five-year survival rate is now over 85 per cent.
We can be proud of that, but it is not the full picture. For those living with secondary breast cancer, where the cancer has spread and is no longer curable, the outlook is still deeply concerning. It is estimated that more than 1,000 people in Scotland die of breast cancer each year—many of them from secondary cancer. Those patients often do not have the benefit of the same level of visibility, data collection or specialised care as those with primary breast cancer, and that is something that we can change. We must shine a stronger light on secondary breast cancer. That means better data collection, quicker and more accurate diagnosis, increased opportunities for clinical trials and wider access to specialist support. Although a cure may not yet be within reach, people living with incurable cancer deserve time, dignity and the best possible quality of life.
This year’s awareness day also gives us a moment to remember someone whom many of us knew, loved and respected—Christina McKelvie MSP. Christina was more than a colleague; she was a friend to all and a passionate advocate for equality, dignity and justice. She was someone who consistently fought for those who needed a voice and for those who found themselves marginalised, disadvantaged and often overlooked. Her voice in this chamber was powerful, and her absence is deeply felt. We honour her legacy by continuing the work that she believed in so strongly.
Breast cancer affects every part of our society, across every postcode and background. It impacts women and men and families. It does not discriminate, and neither should our efforts to fight it. Let us use Breast Cancer Now awareness day not only to raise funds and wear it pink, but to push forward with purpose. Let us continue to invest in research, ensure equal access to care and raise awareness for those who are still fighting and those who are living with secondary cancer. [Applause.]
Thank you, Ms Adamson. We move to the open debate.
12:54
I congratulate Clare Adamson MSP on securing this important debate and on all the work that she has done in Parliament to raise awareness of breast cancer and the wear it pink campaign.
I am pleased to speak in the debate and pay tribute to my dear friend and beloved colleague Christina McKelvie. Christina’s warmth, kindness and passion for equality drive us all. In her memory, we must push harder to raise awareness and call for more research, to ensure that no one loses their life to breast cancer.
A few months ago, I went for my first breast screening. I am not afraid to admit that I was a bit nervous and apprehensive about it. However, I did not need to be, as the wonderful Gillian at the Golden Jubilee hospital in my home town of Clydebank put me at ease from the word go and carried out the mammogram with minimal discomfort.
The procedure took less than 10 minutes, so I urge anyone who is called for the screening to go, as it can save your life. It is essential, as one woman in nine in Scotland will develop breast cancer. Screening can find breast cancer before you notice any symptoms, and you are more likely to survive if it is found early. Even if you are fit and healthy, it is important that you attend and check yourself regularly.
Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women in the UK. A woman is diagnosed every nine minutes and a man every day. Thanks to advances in research and treatment, almost nine women in 10 survive breast cancer for five years or more. Breast cancer survival rates have doubled in the past 50 years, and it is estimated that routine screening prevents around 1,300 deaths from breast cancer each year in the UK. According to Breast Cancer Now, in the 1990s, more than one person in seven died from breast cancer, whereas today it is one in 20. That is a positive improvement, but more needs to be done. That is why the Breast Cancer Now wear it pink initiative is important. It raises millions of pounds for life-saving breast cancer research and care.
More needs to be done to increase awareness of secondary breast cancer, for which there is currently no cure. Currently, around 1,000 women in the UK die each month as a result of secondary breast cancer. I agree with Breast Cancer Now that it is a matter of urgency that we should dramatically improve outcomes for people whose cancer has spread.
Unfortunately, there are also inequalities in relation to cancer. There are inequalities in the risk factors for breast cancer, the uptake of breast cancer screening and survival rates. Lifestyle factors increase the risk of breast cancer. Public Health Scotland is clear that each of those factors is socially patterned, with people who live in deprived areas being more at risk. Women on low incomes are less likely to go for breast cancer screening, and breast cancer survival rates are worse in women from more deprived areas, partly due to the lower uptake of breast cancer screening. Public Health Scotland advises that, for the three-year period from 2020 to 2023, women from more deprived areas were less likely to attend breast screening: 64.2 per cent from the most deprived areas compared to 82.8 per cent in the least deprived areas. I want more action on that, to ensure that everyone can receive a timely diagnosis and treatment to beat breast cancer.
My sincere thanks go to Breast Cancer Now for all its amazing work and to its local co-ordinator, Kirsteen McDonald, for taking the time to meet me. In Christina McKelvie’s memory, let us continue to work together to ensure that breast cancer no longer takes the lives of those we love.
12:58
I associate myself with everything that Clare Adamson says in her motion and said in her excellent speech. I recognise Breast Cancer Now awareness day 2025 and commend the vital work of Breast Cancer Now, which is the UK’s leading breast cancer research and support charity.
I recognise, as Clare Adamson said, that the wear it pink campaign is an effective way of raising awareness. I am a week late—I see that the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care is also wearing pink—but I recognise the importance of the campaign, of showing solidarity and of communities demonstrating that they stand with people who are affected by breast cancer. It is a simple act, but it carries a powerful message of compassion and hope.
I thank God for the professionalism and compassion of the people who treated my wife, Yvonne, when she was diagnosed with breast cancer. No one forgets the moment when the words, “You have cancer” are spoken. The room falls silent, the world narrows and your heart sinks with fear for the one you love. In that moment, everything depends on the people around you. For Yvonne and me, it was the breast screening services team in Glasgow—it was they who first told Yvonne. I will never forget the quiet calm with which they broke the news. There was no panic, no bluntness and no false reassurance—just steady, compassionate professionalism. They explained what the diagnosis meant and what the pathway ahead would look like, treating Yvonne not as a statistic but as a woman with fears, hopes and a family who loved her.
The consultant surgeon who cared for Yvonne was equally remarkable. With clarity and sensitivity, she guided us through what surgery would involve. Her calm authority, patience and absolute dedication gave us reassurance at a time of great fear and uncertainty.
After surgery, Yvonne’s treatment moved to the Beatson West of Scotland Cancer Centre in Glasgow. I pay the highest tribute to the staff there. They were at the cutting edge of cancer treatment. However, what struck me most was their humanity. They did not simply deliver treatment—they cared. They knew Yvonne’s name, they asked after her wellbeing, and they invested themselves in her recovery as though she were one of their own. I saw that same care extended to every patient who walked through those doors. I cannot speak highly enough of them. To this day, my gratitude is without limit, because they gave me my wife, and they gave us both the chance of time together—something never again to be taken for granted.
That experience taught me that breast cancer is not borne by the patient alone; it is shared by husbands, wives, children, families and friends. I want to pay special tribute to Jo Churchill, the former member of Parliament for Bury St Edmunds and a two-time cancer survivor. During Yvonne’s treatment, Jo’s empathy and wisdom were a lifeline to me. Her support reminded me that compassion and solidarity matter almost as much as treatment.
The statistics remain sobering. Around 5,500 people are diagnosed with breast cancer in Scotland each year, and 1,000 die. Too many still wait too long for a diagnosis. Too many lack access to genomic testing. Secondary breast cancer—for which there is no cure, as was mentioned earlier—still blights lives.
We must be ambitious. That means resourcing our screening programme in order to achieve the 80 per cent target, collecting proper data on secondary breast cancer and ensuring access to new treatments and genomic testing on the national health service, not just private access.
In support of the motion and of Clare Adamson’s speech, I say let us wear pink with pride. Let us raise funds. Let us commit to ensuring that Scotland leads in research, treatment and care. In doing so, we give hope to those who live with breast cancer today and to those who will face it tomorrow. [Applause.]
13:03
I congratulate Clare Adamson on securing this important debate and commend her for her thoughtful contribution. Like other colleagues, I associate myself with her remarks.
Like many other members, I come to the debate thinking of Christina McKelvie. I first met Christina when she was a young learning and development officer in social work services, working to improve the lives of families in Glasgow. It was absolutely characteristic of Christina that, even before she was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2020, she already supported Breast Cancer Now’s wear it pink campaign. She responded to her diagnosis by campaigning even harder to encourage women to regularly check their breasts and attend screening appointments.
Sadly, however, breast cancer remains one of the main causes of death in Scotland, and the vast majority of those who are affected are women. As Marie McNair rightly said, one in nine women in Scotland will develop breast cancer, but they are five times more likely to survive it if it is caught early.
Yesterday, I had the privilege of chairing a meeting with Atos Scotland and Breast Cancer Now to discuss what more progress can be made in screening. Uptake in Scotland right now is just over 75 per cent, which is good, but that still means that one in four eligible women are missing that vital opportunity. Although around 80 per cent of women from the least deprived fifth of the population take up screening, the rate among the most deprived fifth is 65 per cent. Last week, I urged the Scottish Government to publish the cancer deprivation figures, and I repeat that call now, because it is only with accurate data that we can target those who need it most effectively.
Raising awareness of screening is only part of the picture. For screening to work, not only do we need women to come in the door; we need radiographers to take scans and radiologists to make diagnoses based on the results. It is the whole journey that matters. I heard earlier this year from the Society of Radiographers, which warned that many of its members are at the point of burnout. Demand for diagnostic radiography has increased by 11 per cent year on year, and there is no equivalent increase in radiographer numbers or their equipment. Meanwhile, the latest census from the Royal College of Radiologists found that there was a 25 per cent shortfall of radiologists in Scotland, which is expected to rise to 35 per cent by 2029. In addition, of all the UK nations, Scotland has the worst shortage of clinical oncologists who treat cancer. Further, Scottish Labour research that was published earlier this year found that Scottish hospitals are relying on scanners that, in many cases, are decades old. We can do so much better.
There is a new drug to treat secondary breast cancer, which the Scottish Medicines Consortium considered recently—this week, I believe—and an announcement is expected next week. However, we lack the capacity for the type of genetic testing that is required along with the drug, which is routinely available to women in NHS England. I plead with the Minister for Public Health and Women’s Health and the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care to act quickly to ensure that the drug can be used in Scotland, if passed by the SMC.
For 2025-26, the UK Labour Government delivered a record budget settlement for Scotland, including around £2 billion extra for Scotland’s NHS. It is up to the Scottish Government to ensure that that money is invested appropriately. I ask the Scottish Government to commit to investing in scanners and developing a proper workforce plan so that women who turn up for screening know that, if anything is found, they will have the fastest possible route to treatment.
13:07
I, too, express my sincere thanks to Clare Adamson for bringing this important motion to the chamber for debate and to my fellow MSPs, who have all provided meaningful and thought-provoking contributions to our discussion.
I associate myself with the motion’s commendation of the work of the charity Breast Cancer Now. It is an active member of the Scottish Cancer Coalition, and I greatly appreciate its contribution to the national conversation on issues in relation to breast cancer and its vital work in supporting women living with breast cancer in Scotland. Clare Adamson and other members are right to recognise the support that men living with breast cancer get, too.
I have met the charity on a number of occasions since I became Minister for Public Health and Women’s Health, and I look forward to continuing that important collaboration into the future. The charity published its five-year strategy at the end of September, and I was pleased to note that our priorities continue to be aligned in the coming years and that its three key themes—earlier diagnosis, care and support, and new treatment—echo the ambitions of our 10-year cancer strategy for Scotland, which we published in 2023.
Everyone in the chamber has been completely correct about wear it pink. Stephen Kerr talked about what an effective way it is of raising awareness but also about the messages of care and hope that it brings.
The motion has awarded us the opportunity to mark the important contribution of Christina McKelvie.
I apologise if I am pre-empting the minister’s next remark. I commend the Scottish Government for approving the drug Enhertu, which is not approved elsewhere in the UK. There are campaigns to make it available elsewhere.
The minister mentioned the wear it pink campaign, and Stephen Kerr did as well. I let the select band of members in the chamber know that next year, on 4 April, there will be a wear it pink event for Christina McKelvie, which will continue from the 10 to 15 years for which Christina hosted the wear it pink campaign in the Parliament. It will not be a Scottish National Party event; it will be open to everyone, if you can get a ticket. The money raised from that will go, in part, to Breast Cancer Now. I bring that to the attention of the minister and members.
I thank Keith Brown for that intervention and I hope that I will be able to get a ticket to that event.
As I was saying, the motion has given us the opportunity to mark the important contribution of our dear friend and colleague Christina McKelvie to amplifying the voices of women with breast cancer in Scotland.
Earlier this year, we had a very powerful motion of condolence for Christina. For me, Christina represented the heart and soul of our party. Her determination to make Scotland a better place to live in for the generations to come and her passion to see Scotland thrive as an independent nation meant that she dedicated her life to encouraging others to speak up and speak out for what is right. She championed so many important causes and was the epitome of what progressive politics should look like.
The first time that I saw Christina McKelvie speak, I remember thinking, “Who is this amazing woman?” She was full of energy. She spoke with such passion. She owned the room and, simply, she held everyone in the palm of her hand. Her demeanour was infectious and her presence will be forever missed in this chamber.
Christina’s focus on supporting minorities and women should be applauded and her particular focus on women’s health meant that she was a passionate advocate for all the issues in relation to breast cancer. As others have said, she had been so before her personal diagnosis. She was committed to ensuring that women regularly checked their breasts and were aware of signs and symptoms of breast cancer, as well as to encouraging all eligible women to attend their appointments at her national breast screening programme. I thank Marie McNair for emphasising the importance of that in her contribution.
I am pleased to be here to outline some of the actions that the Scottish Government is working on to continue Christina’s important legacy on this issue.
I appreciate that the minister is about to move on to say what is happening. I want to remember on record that one of the first things that Christina did after her diagnosis was to have the age protocols for screening changed. I was a couple of months older than Christina—she never let me forget it—but, because of the cycle of when people were called to be tested, I had my first breast cancer screening test three years before she did. She changed that system to ensure that every woman would have that screening in her 50th year.
Clare Adamson raises an incredibly important point about Christina McKelvie’s focus on doing the right thing. I thank her for mentioning it.
We know that one in nine women living in Scotland will develop breast cancer at some stage in their life. Breast cancer is the second most common cancer in Scotland and the most common cancer to be detected in females. Importantly, due to improved detection and treatment options, survival rates have significantly increased over the past 30 years. Women are five times more likely to survive breast cancer if it is caught early. However, that does not mean that we should stop looking at new ways to work on it, such as the one that Clare Adamson just highlighted.
We know that earlier diagnosis is vital. That is why we continue to invest in our detect cancer earlier programme, which encompasses primary care, diagnostics, public education, data, innovation and screening. The programme works closely with the Scottish Cancer Coalition, including Breast Cancer Now, to support awareness-raising efforts, and uses social media channels to promote joint content and messaging where possible. Our “Be the Early Bird” campaign, which was launched in March 2023, aims to reduce the fear of cancer and to empower those with possible symptoms to act early. The campaign has been rerun several times over the past three years, specifically to target women aged 40-plus from areas of deprivation.
We are also committed to ensuring that those women who are diagnosed with breast cancer receive the best possible treatment and support. Our strategy has a range of measures that aim to benefit all those who are living with cancer, including implementation of a single point of contact to support patients throughout their journey and after discharge. It was heartening to hear about Stephen Kerr’s wife’s experience at the Beatson and throughout her treatment.
In Scotland, we are proud of our national breast cancer screening programme. All women aged 50 to 70 are invited for breast screening every three years, and women over 71 can request an appointment if it has been more than three years since their last appointment. My officials are also working with Screening Oversight and Assurance Scotland to implement the recommendations from its breast screening modernisation report, which was submitted earlier this year. The final report will be published in the coming weeks.
Christina McKelvie also championed the importance of improving data collection for metastatic breast cancer in Scotland. She shone that light, as Clare Adamson mentioned. I appreciate that that is an important issue for Breast Cancer Now and for patients including Jen and Alison, who I was so pleased to meet last Thursday on wear it pink day.
In our cancer action plan, we committed to improving data collection for metastatic cancers, and we are starting that process with breast cancer. My officials, along with colleagues in Public Health Scotland, are currently undertaking a thorough review of our options in relation to collecting data on secondary breast cancer in Scotland. As part of that work, they are considering the clinical time required and how such data can be used to improve services. My officials expect to receive advice from Public Health Scotland imminently. Following receipt of that advice, our aim is to agree the best method of data collection by 2026, which is the completion date for our cancer action plan. I note the points that Jackie Baillie made about the SMC’s deliberations, and I will take that issue away.
I reiterate my thanks to Clare Adamson and all my colleagues for their contributions today. I also thank Breast Cancer Now and all the other organisations that provide vital support to women and men living with breast cancer in Scotland. Together, we must build on the legacy of Christina McKelvie and the many other women who have lived with breast cancer.
That concludes the debate.
13:17 Meeting suspended.Previous
First Minister’s Question Time