Henry Smith, Crawley’s MP, has joined leading health experts to find out more about Cancer Research UK’s inspiring new plan to accelerate progress and help save more lives in the South East.
Henry joined 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. Afterwards he commented:
“I’ve always been passionate about better support and awareness, but with my mum dying of cancer two years ago my support has only been re-enforced.
“It’s truly inspiring to see what research can achieve. That’s why I’m backing Cancer Research UK’s campaign to make every moment count in the fight against cancer and I’m encouraging everyone to join me.
“I was proud a few years ago to open the new Digital Mammography Unit at Crawley Hospital but there’s no room for complacency. 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.”
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 South East, this means that around 21,000* 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 South East and across the UK beat cancer sooner.
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Notes
*There are around 43,100 people diagnosed with cancer in the South East region each year. Using predicted 10 year survival data for England and Wales for patients diagnosed in 2010 we estimate that 21,478 people will survive their cancer for at least 10 years."