Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has had recent discussion with NHS England about improving early detection of Ductal Carcinoma in situ in women.

Improving early diagnosis of cancer, including breast cancer, is a priority for NHS England. NHS England has an ambition to diagnose 75% of cancers at stage 1 or 2 by 2028, which will help tens of thousands of people live longer. The National Health Service in England carries out approximately 2.1 million breast cancer screens each year in hospitals and mobile screening vans, usually in convenient community locations.

Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) is usually detected on a mammogram through the breast screening programme. In the United Kingdom, one in five breast cancers found by screening are non-invasive breast cancer, including DCIS. The Department and NHS England have regular ongoing meetings in regard to the breast screening programme and breast cancer awareness.

The Department is committed to improving waiting times for cancer patients across England by delivering an extra 40,000 operations, scans, and appointments each week, as the first step to ensuring early diagnosis and faster treatment.