Andrew Turner MP has backed a campaign to ‘spot cancer early’ at a major Cancer Research UK event in Parliament. The Island’s MP attended the event to discuss the importance of early diagnosis and how it can significantly improve survival rates. The UK’s survival rates are worse than many other European countries, at least partly because of late diagnosis. MPs also heard that one in three people can expect to be told they have cancer in their lifetime.
Aisling Burnand, executive director of policy and public affairs at Cancer Research UK, said:
“We are calling for the Government to commit to beating cancer through diagnosing cancer earlier. The Government must ensure that GPs are given greater access to the tests they need to diagnose cancer, and secondly accurately record the stage at which the majority of patients’ cancers are diagnosed. This will help us monitor trends and drive progress on early diagnosis more quickly in poor performing areas.”
Mr Turner said :
“Treatment for cancer is usually simpler and more likely to be effective the earlier it is started. Many of us have lost loved ones to this dreadful disease so looking at ways to recognise cancer earlier is an important aspect of how we can improve how we tackle it. Late diagnosis contributes to 10,000 avoidable deaths from cancer each year so this affects many, many people and I am pleased to help promote the campaign.”
The parliamentary event was part of the charity’s Commit to Beat Cancer campaign, which identifies five main areas to address in order to improve cancer survival rates – preventing more cancers, tackling inequalities, protecting the science research base, providing access to world class treatment and detecting cancer earlier.
END Contact : Andrew Turner’s office 01983 530808
