Stephen Metcalfe,
Member of Parliament for South Basildon & East Thurrock joined Cancer
Research UK scientists in Westminster to find out more about the charity’s
inspiring new plan to accelerate progress and help save more lives in the East
of England.
Stephen was there
to find out the part he could play in helping to achieve Cancer Research UK’s
ambition that within 20 years three in four of all cancer patients
diagnosed will survive at least ten years.
Stephen had the
opportunity to participate in interactive experiments with cancer researchers,
learning about the biology of cancer and cutting-edge work to bring forward the
day when all cancers are cured.
There have been
major advances in the fight against cancer over the last 40 years and Cancer
Research UK’s work has been at the heart of that progress.
Two in four
people diagnosed with cancer today in the UK will survive their disease for at
least ten years, compared to just one in four in the early 1970s.
In the East of
England, this means that around 15,000* people each year can now expect to
survive the disease for at least ten years.
But despite the successes, Cancer Research UK
believes much more can be done to help more people in the East of England and
across the UK beat cancer sooner.
Stephen found out
about what the Government can do to improve early diagnosis and ensure that all
patients get the best treatment possible.
Stephen Metcalfe
said: “The good news is that there have been significant steps forward for
cancer patients. More people are surviving the disease and living longer and Cancer Research UK’s work has been at the
heart of this progress.
“But there is more to be done to help
people beat cancer. I wholeheartedly support Cancer Research UK’s aim to
improve survival through the earlier diagnosis of cancer and greater access to the best treatment possible.”
Sara Osborne, Head of Policy at Cancer
Research UK said: “It’s
great to have Stephen Metcalfe’s support to highlight the vital role MPs and
their constituents can play in helping to tackle all cancers.
“We must not
underestimate the devastating impact that cancer has on the lives of those with
a cancer diagnosis and their families.
“As more people
are diagnosed with the disease, it’s essential that we speed up our progress.
We know that early diagnosis and access to the best possible treatments saves
lives. We need the public and MPs to get behind us and help make our ambition
possible. In the next two decades we
can, and will, transform the outlook for cancer patients.”
For more
information on how to get involved in Cancer Research UK’s campaigning
work, visit cruk.org/campaigns.
