A survey conducted by charity Breast Cancer Care has suggested that women with incurable breast cancer are suffering needlessly in their last months of life.
The poll, which surveyed over 200 women suffering with the cancer, found that 90% were often in pain and over half (59 per cent) were suffering daily.
If the results obtained by the charity are the same across all breast cancer patients, over 32,000 women could be affected.
Breast Cancer Care’s clinical director, Dr Emma Pennery, said that pain relief might be being overlooked because doctors are focusing so much on treating the cancer.
Fiona Hedges, Medical Negligence Solicitor at firm Russell Worth solicitors, said “It is very concerning that these women are suffering so much at a time when they need to be supported most.
“If the figure reported by the charity is mirrored across all patients, this is an incredibly large number of women who aren’t getting the help they need on a daily basis. It is unacceptable for patients to be suffering in this way and the issue needs to be addressed.”
The poll also found that around 41 per cent of the women hadn’t been offered palliative care, which helps sufferers to manage the pain.
Today (13th October) is Secondary Breast Cancer Awareness Day and Breast Cancer Care is calling on doctors to inform women of the pain relief available to them as soon as they are diagnosed.
Dr Emma Pennery, clinical director of the charity, said: “Palliative care can have a significant impact on quality of life and can really help to alleviate suffering. Sadly, palliative care teams tell us some of their referrals are for breast cancer patients who are within a few weeks of death.
“By that stage, it is too late to intervene as effectively.
“Developments in treatment mean people are living with secondary breast cancer for longer, therefore it’s vital that healthcare professionals are equipped with the knowledge they need to offer appropriate symptom management.
“No one should live with unnecessary pain or without the information they need to make decisions about their own health.”
The charity said that 70 per cent of those polled didn’t even know that palliative care existed.
Support Breast Cancer Care in raising awareness of Secondary Breast Cancer Awareness Day by visiting their website: www.breastcancercare.org.uk.