Dawn Butler MP has shown her support for “inspirational” women living with incurable breast cancer in Brent by joining calls for better care through improved data collection.

Attending a Breast Cancer Care reception in Parliament to mark Secondary Breast Cancer Awareness Day, the Brent Central MP met with women living with the disease and pledged her support for accurate data collection on numbers diagnosed with the condition.

Currently data is only collected on the numbers diagnosed or living with primary breast cancer but the charity says more clarity is needed from hospitals on those being treated by for the secondary and incurable form of the disease in order to ensure they get they care they need.

Speaking about Breast Cancer Care’s campaign to improve data, Ms Butler said: “In Brent alone 32 women every year die because of breast cancer and more research and data is vitally needed to help protect women living with this disease.

“I met some truly inspirational women who are living with secondary breast cancer. It is shocking that we still don’t have accurate data on those living with the incurable disease and this must be made a priority.”

Breast Cancer care is calling for government action to make care and support for people living with secondary breast cancer one of the top issues on their health agenda.

Danni Manzi, head of policy and campaigns at Breast Cancer Care said: “We are extremely grateful to Dawn for coming along to our event and showing her support.

“Data collection is crucial to improving the care and support available for the women and men living with secondary breast cancer.

“Only when we have the full picture about the numbers living with the disease can we make informed decisions to ensure care services are planned effectively and that everyone affected by secondary breast cancer gets the support they need from day one.”

To find out more about secondary breast cancer and how to get involved with Breast Cancer Care’s campaign see: www.breastcancercare.org.uk/secondary