S7 Ep10: Ashley Dalton MP: What the National Cancer Plan means for you

Ashley Dalton, Labour MP and former Health Minister, joins Laura on the Breast Cancer Now podcast this week.In this episode, Ashley reflects on her breast cancer diagnoses, and what working with incurable metastatic disease is like. She also talks about leading the development of the National Cancer Plan for England and why patients' experiences are essential for creating cancer policy.Ashley discusses the importance of counting people with metastatic cancers, having a single patient file in the NHS, and pushing for real change.Read the National Cancer Plan here.Key Topics:01:18 Getting to know Ashley Dalton07:45 Ashley's breast cancer diagnoses14:14 Life between primary and metastatic breast cancer16:36 The Prime Minister's reaction to Ashley's cancer diagnosis18:43 Ashley resigns from her job as Health Minister20:40 What is the National Cancer Plan?22:06 Involving organisations and patients in the Cancer Plan25:40 The great ambition of the Cancer Plan31:52 What does the National Cancer Plan mean for metastatic breast cancer?33:02 We need to count people with metastatic breast cancer37:43 Improving access to treatment44:03 Identifying people with an increased risk of breast cancer45:32 Improving access to breast screening48:44 Ashley shares her highlights from the Cancer Plan51:24 Keeping hope in the face of metastatic breast cancer