Matthew joined forces with dedicated cancer campaigners to highlight Cancer Research UK’s ambition to help more people survive.
He met Sonia Mansukhani, Julie Tucker and Barbara Freedman to find out the part he could play in helping to achieve Cancer Research UK’s ambition that within 20years three in four of all cancer patients diagnosed will survive at least ten years.
Matthew said: “It was a pleasure to meet Sonia, Julie and Barbara 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 London, this means that around 14,000* 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 London and across the UK beat cancer sooner.
Sonia, Julie and Barbara were three of over 100 Cancer Research UK Ambassadors who came to Westminster to meet their MPs and highlight the importance of parliamentary support to accelerate progress in the fight against cancer.
Sonia, aged 29 and a Doctor said: “I’m really excited to have taken part in Cancer Research UK’s day of action, because I know that this is one of the ways that I can help make a difference in the future of cancer.”
Julie said: “It is a privilege to have taken part in Cancer Research UK’s day of action. Cancer has touched the lives of so many of my family and friends. Volunteering as an Ambassador allows me to do something in tribute to them or in memory.
“It was fantastic to meet Matthew, who is always so supportive and a great listener, 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 Matthew to help more cancer patients survive.”
Barbara said: “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.”
Sonia, Julie and Barbara urged Matthew 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.
Matthew 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
*There are around 29,000 people diagnosed with cancer in the London region each year. Using predicted 10 year survival data for England and Wales for patients diagnosed in 2010 we estimate that 14,479 people will survive their cancer for at least 10 years.
For further information about Cancer Research UK's work or to find out how to support the charity, please call 0300 123 1022 or visit www.cancerresearchuk.org. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.