Breast cancer campaigners target Burnham at PMQs over £20m research fund

A 22-minute vigil opposite Downing Street tomorrow will call on the Prime Minister to back dedicated research into invasive lobular breast cancer after 469 MPs and representatives of 17 opposition parties supported the campaign

Campaigners will stage a silent vigil opposite Downing Street tomorrow morning as they press Prime Minister Andy Burnham to fund a £20m research programme into invasive lobular breast cancer.

The 22-minute protest, from 10.38am to 11am, will represent the approximately 22 women diagnosed with the disease in the UK each day and has been timed to coincide with Burnham’s second Prime Minister’s Questions.

The Lobular Moon Shot Project is seeking £20m over five years for dedicated research into the biology of invasive lobular breast cancer, subject to scientific proposals, independent peer review and governance.

Campaigners say around 1,000 people worldwide are diagnosed with the disease every day. Despite being the second most common form of breast cancer, there is currently no treatment designed specifically around its distinct biology.

The vigil follows a three-page letter delivered to Downing Street on September 1 and signed by leaders and senior representatives of all 17 UK opposition parties. The letter recorded the backing of 466 MPs when it was finalised, with the campaign saying support has since risen to 469.

As the Mayor of Greater Manchester, Burnham reportedly said he was “proud to back the Lobular Moon Shot Project” and that the lack of dedicated treatments and funding “has to change”.

The campaign was co-founded in 2023 by the late Dr Susan Michaelis and her husband Tristan Loraine after Michaelis was diagnosed with invasive lobular breast cancer. 

She continued campaigning while living with terminal stage-four disease, knowing the research she was seeking was unlikely to benefit her personally.

Campaigners hope an MP will raise the issue directly with Burnham during PMQs and ask whether the Government will provide a route for the proposed research programme to proceed.

Loraine said: “While Westminster debates many things on Wednesday, somewhere around the world another 1,000 people will be told they have invasive lobular breast cancer. There is still no treatment specifically designed for the unique biology of their disease.

“Andy Burnham told us he was proud to back this project. He is now Prime Minister. The campaign has 469 supporting MPs and all 17 opposition political parties have united behind the letter delivered to Downing Street.

“At 10:38 on Wednesday morning we will stand silently opposite Downing Street for 22 minutes. We hope that when the Prime Minister stands at the Dispatch Box, somebody will ask him a very simple question: will you now ring-fence the £20 million and let the research proceed?”

READ MORE: European Commission issues new cancer prevention guidance as EU records 2.7m cases in a year. Updated European Code Against Cancer published on World Cancer Day as Brussels marks five years of its Beating Cancer Plan and warns that many cases remain preventable.

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_{Main image: 10 Downing Street, where Prime Minister Andy Burnham will face calls to back a £20m research programme into invasive lobular breast cancer. Credit: Sgt Tom Robinson RLC/MOD / OGL v1.0.}