The government needs to review its plans for breast cancer services for the next 30 years or face crisis in the service, a new report has warned.

The study, commissioned by the charity Breast Cancer Care, argued that the number of cases is likely to increase, while existing services would be unable to cope.

In interviews with more than 50 cancer experts, fewer than half expected there to be sufficient resources over the next 30 years.

In contrast, 80 per cent of those surveyed predicted that there would be a shortfall in the number of specialist health treatment facilities to treat older people with multiple conditions.

"Planning and investment is urgently needed now to ensure that the UK has the infrastructure in place to care for people with breast cancer," said report author Anna Wood.

"Facilities, treatments and skilled healthcare professionals must be planned now for the future or breast cancer patients, particularly older women, will not get the medical services and community support they need."

The study found that 70 per cent of healthcare professionals believed that ageism dogged services for older sufferers of breast cancer.

"Women over the age of 70 with breast cancer respond just as well to treatment as younger patients," said Professor Trevor Powles of the Institute of Cancer Research.

"It is ageism at its worst to deny such women, who otherwise have 15 to 20 years of life expectancy, state-of-the-art treatment and follow-up."

The report was published to mark the 30th anniversary of the Breast Cancer Care charity.

"Older women are more likely to be diagnosed with breast cancer and together with an ageing population and rising incidence, the predicted shortages in palliative care paint a frightening picture of the future," said chief executive Samia al Qadhi.