MP highlights local cancer campaigners fight

Macclesfield MP, David Rutley, joined forces with two dedicated cancer campaigners to highlight Cancer Research UK’s ambition to help more people survive.

He met local residents, Ruth Cartwright and Jennie Davies, in Parliament to find out more about 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.

David said: “It was a pleasure to meet Ruth and Jennie and listen to their stories. 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 North West, this means that around 19,000* 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 North West and across the UK beat cancer sooner.

Ruth and Jennie were two 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.

They said: “We’re really excited to have taken part in Cancer Research UK’s day of action, because we know that this is a great way to help make a difference.

“We 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.”

They continued: “It was fantastic to meet our MP, David Rutley, and discuss our reasons for becoming Cancer Research UK Campaigns Ambassadors and why early diagnosis matters to us personally. Cancer Research UK is making huge progress but we need the help and support of MPs like David to help more cancer patients survive.”

They urged David to write to the Secretary of State for Health, 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.

David 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