Women with breast cancer have limited rights according to the law.

Although the following are not enshrined in law, Breakthrough believes every woman with breast cancer should have the right to expect the following and that the NHS should make an explicit written service pledge to every individual woman diagnosed with breast cancer.

The NHS promises every woman diagnosed with breast cancer:

Access and waiting

1. Will receive a prompt, accurate and thorough diagnosis in writing and that the diagnosis will be fully explained in a clear and sensitive manner.

2. Access to speedy treatment at all stages, including radiotherapy. If delays or cancellations do occur, that the reasons and implications will be fully explained.

3. Access to a second opinion at any stage of the breast cancer journey.

Close relationships

4. Will be treated with dignity and respect throughout her breast cancer journey by health professionals: that communication will be clear, sensitive and tailored to individual needs; and that her time will be valued.

5. Will be involved in decision-making about her own treatment on her own terms, whether she wants to take an active or passive role.

6. Access to a simple complaint procedure capable of resolving complaints quickly without fear of jeopardising relationships with the health professionals responsible for her treatment.

Safe, high quality, co-ordinated care

7. Access to a breast care nurse and that a multi-disciplinary team of experts will manage her care.

8. Access to information about local and national support and self-help services (including psycho-social support) for herself, family and friends. Access to ongoing support from the breast care nurse after treatment has been completed.

9. Where appropriate, access to specialist palliative care services and to be allowed to choose where to die.

10. A seamless transition between the NHS and private healthcare providers, where the private option is chosen, and that where public money is used to pay for treatment in the private sector, that the breast unit concerned will conform to national breast cancer guidelines.

11. The opportunity to be involved in shaping the future of breast cancer services.

A clean, comfortable, friendly place to be

12. Will receive treatment in a comfortable hospital environment that is able to accommodate her need for privacy, for example at diagnosis and during chemotherapy.

Information, choice

13. Access to clear, accurate and consistent information to enable her to be breast aware and present symptoms to a GP at an early stage.

14. That the benefits and potential side effects of all treatments, including reconstruction, will be explained before decisions are taken and that comprehensive and timely information and a written treatment plan will be provided in an accessible format (e.g. Braille or languages other than English). That new treatments, diagnostic and other relevant tests will be made available according to clinical need.

15. Will be offered choices about reconstructive surgery at an early stage of the breast cancer journey regardless of age or breast size.

16. Will be given time to discuss and consider all treatment options carefully and to have decisions respected, including the use of complementary therapies if that is what she chooses.

17. Access to meaningful information about the performance of her local hospital and the choice to travel to another hospital for treatment if her local hospital performs poorly.

18. The opportunity to take part in an appropriate trial without undue pressure and that the advantages and disadvantages of clinical trials will be explained.

Breakthrough believes women with breast cancer have a responsibility:

1. To treat healthcare professionals with courtesy at all times.

2. To recognise that healthcare professionals often work under pressure.

3. To keep all mutually agreed medical appointments, or to give prior notice if cancellation is unavoidable.

4. To keep health professionals informed of any change in relevant personal circumstances (e.g. change of address).

5. If making a formal complaint, to do so using appropriate channels.

Observer campaign: send us your views

Email The Observer at breast.cancer@observer.co.uk

Or you can contact Breakthrough Breast Cancer at info@breakthrough.org.uk with your views on the draft statement.