Lincoln’s Member of Parliament, Karl McCartney MP, joined forces with a dedicated cancer campaigner from Lincoln to highlight Cancer Research UK’s ambition to help more people survive.
He met Grace Woods 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.
Karl McCartney MP said: “It was a pleasure to meet Grace and listen to her story. I want to do what I can to help beat cancer sooner.”
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 Midlands, this means that around 12,000* 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 Midlands and across the UK beat cancer sooner.
Grace was one of over 100 Cancer Research UK Ambassadors who came to Westminster in early July to meet their MPs and highlight the importance of parliamentary support to accelerate progress in the fight against cancer.
Grace said: “I’m really excited to have taken part in Cancer Research UK’s day of action, because I know that this is a great way to help make a difference.
“I feel passionate about supporting Cancer Research UK’s work. So many people are diagnosed with cancer and it’s vital that we do all we can to help save more lives.”
She continued: “It was fantastic to meet my Member of Parliament, Karl McCartney MP, and discuss my reasons for becoming a Cancer Research UK Campaigns Ambassador and why early diagnosis matters to me personally. Cancer Research UK is making huge progress but we need the help and support of MPs like Karl McCartney to help more cancer patients survive.”
Grace urged Karl to write to the Secretary of State for Health, Rt Hon Jeremy Hunt MP, asking him to back measures to improve early diagnosis, including public awareness campaigns and increased participation in the bowel cancer screening programme.
Karl McCartney MP said: “The charity’s pioneering work into the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of cancer is helping to save millions of lives. It’s vital that we continue to support their work and do everything we can to help beat cancer sooner.”
For more information on how to get involved in Cancer Research UK’s campaigning work, visit cruk.org/campaigns