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MP says cancer care still too much of "a postcode lottery"
Mike Hancock MP has said that cancer care is still too much of a "postcode lottery" despite some improvements in the last ten years and there needs to be a big push over the next ten years to improve things. Portsmouth has significantly more deaths from cancer than the national average and the MP thinks there should be more targeted action to reduce these unnecessary deaths.
The MP was speaking as he discussed the importance of keeping cancer high on the political agenda at the parliamentary launch of Cancer Research UK's "Commit to Beat Cancer" Campaign. Mike says there now needs to be a big push to make Britain's outcomes among the best in Europe by 2020.
He said: "Unfortunately one in three people can expect a cancer diagnosis in their lifetime. Outcomes for people with cancer are improving but they could be better. And I'm proud of the world-class charitable medical research we undertake in the UK but more still needs to be done to prevent, detect and treat cancer. I appreciate that budgets will come under pressure in the current financial circumstances. But we must safeguard and improve frontline health services and I committed to fight for that. Some measures such as early detection and encouraging people to lead healthier lifestyles could actually save the NHS money as well as cutting early deaths and illness."
"I support Cancer Research UK's campaign to make the UK's cancer outcomes among the best in Europe. This would have a significant, positive impact on the people of Portsmouth and I will continue to support measures that will help us to reach this goal."
Aisling Burnand, Executive Director of Policy and Public Affairs at Cancer Research UK said: "We are very grateful to Mike Hancock MP for supporting our campaign."
"It is crucial that MPs continue to support measures to improve the UK's cancer outcomes. Ten-year survival rates have doubled over the last thirty years and our work has been at the heart of that progress. Our five year survival rates, however, still lag behind the best performing countries in Europe (such as Sweden, Norway and Finland)."
"There are challenges ahead, and it is vital that action is taken to detect cancer earlier, provide world class treatment, prevent more cancers, tackle cancer inequalities and protect the UK's research base. We must maintain momentum and the Commit To Beat Cancer campaign reflects our supporters' desire to keep up the political pressure."
For further information, please contact me using the contact form here; or Laura McCann, Cancer Research UK Public Affairs Officer, on 020 7061 8499 laura.mcann@cancer.org.uk
For more information please visit the Cancer Campaigns website: www.CommitToBeatCancer.org
Together with its partners and supporters, Cancer Research UK's vision is to beat cancer.
Cancer Research UK carries out world-class research to improve understanding of the disease and find out how to prevent, diagnose and treat different kinds of cancer.
Cancer Research UK ensures that its findings are used to improve the lives of all cancer patients.
Cancer Research UK helps people to understand cancer, the progress that is being made and the choices each person can make.
Cancer Research UK works in partnership with others to achieve the greatest impact in the global fight against cancer.
For further information about Cancer Research UK's work or to find out how to support the charity, please call 08701 602040 or visit www.cancerresearchuk.org
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