Breast cancer survivors Nina Rack and Helen Fisher have joined scores of campaigners lobbying their MPs to fight for improved treatments and detection rates.

The two friends, who are members of the Chippenham Breast Cancer Support Group, descended on London as part of Breakthrough Breast Cancer’s 12th annual Westminster Fly-In event.

The duo made the journey to ask Chippenham MP Duncan Hames to support the charity’s Bridging the Gap in Breast Cancer Survival Charter to make sure more people survive breast cancer.

The charter, based on eight principles, includes the need for effective campaigns, higher early detection rates, and access to state-of-the-art equipment during treatment.

Ms Rack, who lives in Cepen Park North and has fought breast cancer three times, said: “We have lobbied in previous years for things including herceptin, but it’s always worthwhile.

“It’s a chance for ladies across the country in Breakthrough Breast Cancer groups to go along and meet their MPs and ask for things to be improved.

“What is really startling is that Britain is not the best-performing country in Europe in terms of breast cancer survival rates.”

Ms Rack praised the cancer care provided by the Royal United Hospital in Bath.

“They are very good at the RUH,” she said.

“They have undertaken the Breakthrough recommendations as regards waiting times for diagnosis and subsequent care.

“One in eight people will be diagnosed with breast cancer at some point in their lives, so it will affect everyone in some way. It is vitally important that these survival rates get better.

“Over the last two years, I have lost 11 friends to this awful disease, and the treatment for everyone who is diagnosed with cancer is extremely tough, very harsh indeed.”

Mrs Fisher, of Monks Way, suffered breast cancer 16 years ago. She said: “I’ve been with the Chippenham support group more or less from the start. When I went through it, I was very wobbly, and there was nothing of the kind in the town.

“I thought I’d have to start one myself and then three ladies from Chippenham did, so I joined up. We just want to see the best care possible for people who go through breast cancer. We are very lucky with the RUH, but not everyone is as lucky as us.”