Nigel Evans MP recently marked World Cancer Day at a special Cancer Research UK event at Westminster focused 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.
Sadly, in the UK nearly 1 in 2 people will get cancer in their lifetime, demonstrating the need for us to do all that we can to fight cancer.
At this event, the Ribble Valley MP met with Cancer Research UK staff, researchers and campaigners to discuss how to speed up progress in preventing, diagnosing and treating the disease.
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 | Cancer Research UK
The plan sets out a raft of measures that Cancer Research UK believe if they are adopted could help to avoid 20,000 cancer deaths a year by 2040.
Speaking on the event, Nigel Evans 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.
“If we all come together and work with charities such as Cancer Research UK I am certain that huge progress can be made in the areas of preventing, diagnosing and treating cancers. The ambitions set out by Cancer Research UK and their aim to help avoid 20,000 cancer deaths a year by 2040 is a mission that we should all get behind to help ensure that more people affected by cancer can live longer, better lives.”
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.”