Torbay’s MP Kevin Foster marked World Cancer Day at a special Cancer Research UK event at Westminster this week focussed on improving cancer survival in the UK.
Taking place on the 4th February each year, the awareness day is an international initiative which inspires individuals and communities to unite against the disease. It has a special resonance to Kevin having lost both his Mother and Step-Daughter to Cancer.
Kevin met with Cancer Research UK staff, researchers and campaigners to discuss how to speed up progress in preventing, diagnosing and treating the disease. In the UK, nearly 1 in 2 people will get cancer in their lifetime.*
Developed with insights from cancer patients and experts from across health, life sciences, government and academic sectors, the charity has recently published an ambitious cancer plan: Longer, better lives: a manifesto for cancer research and care.
It sets out a raft of key measures that, if adopted in the UK, could help avoid 20,000 cancer deaths a year by 2040.**
Recommendations in the manifesto include the introduction of measures to end cancers caused by smoking, such as the proposed legislation to raise the age of sale of tobacco products; improved early detection of cancer through initiatives including a lung screening programme; greater investment in research; and action to ensure cancer wait time targets are met.
Kevin Foster MP said: “Incredible progress has been made in the fight against cancer and survival in the UK has doubled in the last 50 years. But there’s still much further to go for us to beat cancer once and for all, with it being vital charities, researchers, the NHS and elected representatives work together to get us closer to this ultimate goal.”
Cancer Research UK public affairs manager, Ian Caleb, also underlined that the support of parliamentarians was crucial to help turn the tide on cancer.
He said: “Cancer is the defining health issue of our time, and uniting to beat it has never been more important. On World Cancer Day we recognise the power of working together – and it’s by working together, with strong leadership and political will, that we can drastically improve cancer outcomes.
“We were delighted to speak to so many MPs and Peers in Parliament to mark this important day and highlight the opportunities ahead to elevate UK cancer survival to amongst the best in the world.”
For more information visit cruk.org/manifesto
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