South Shropshire MP, Philip Dunne, marked World Cancer Day at a special Cancer Research UK event at Westminster 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.

In the UK, nearly 1 in 2 people will get cancer in their lifetime.*

Former Health Minister Mr Dunne met 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.

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.

Last week, the government announced £10m funding as part of the radical new programme called The Innovative Devices Access Pathway (IDAP), which aims to bring state-of-the-art technologies and solutions to fight cancer at the forefront of the NHS. Currently in the pilot stage, the funding will be used to test the new technologies for use on a large scale as quickly as possible.

Mr Dunne said: 

“There has been real progress 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. 

"His Majesty’s diagnosis only last week has sadly brought into focus how cancer can affect any of us. 

"While I am retiring as an MP at the next General Election, I know people in South Shropshire could benefit hugely from the proposals in Cancer Research UK’s manifesto and its vital mission to help avoid 20,000 cancer deaths a year in the UK by 2040.”

For more information visit cruk.org/manifesto