Rebecca attended the Cancer Research stall at the Conservative Party Conference to better understand the goals, to accelerate cancer research and dramatically improve outcomes for people affected by cancer.
Cancer Research UK was formed 20 years ago, in 2002 but their history goes back much further, to 1902, with the founding of the Imperial Cancer Research Fund. Thanks to donations their pioneering work looking into how to prevent, diagnose and treat cancer has benefitted millions of lives over the past 120 years.
Ms Harris had the chance to meet with researchers and campaigns working on the latest breakthroughs to deliver change in their communities, alongside learning about the cutting-edge scientific discoveries.
Their aims include effectively eliminating certain forms of cancer, preventing people from developing cancer through encouraging a healthy lifestyle and ensuring those diagnosed are treated at the earliest possible stage.
Rebecca Harris MP said:
“Over the years, the advances that have been made in the fight against the disease have been fantastic, and now more people than ever are surviving their cancer. But, there’s further to go.
“1 in 2 of us will get cancer in our lifetime. We all have a part to play to help beat it, because if the worst happens, we can help to save the lives of more people in Castle Point and across the UK.”
Over the last year, the Government has provided funding to help recover cancer services, and a plan that outlines how that funding will be spent effectively. It is right that this funding comes with high expectations for reducing cancer waiting times. By March 2024, the NHS has set an ambition for 75 per cent of patients who have been urgently referred by their GP for suspected cancer to be diagnosed or have cancer ruled out within 28 days. Some progress is being made towards diagnosing patients earlier, with the NHS meeting the Faster Diagnosis Standard for suspected cancer for the first time in February 2023.
In the UK, survival has doubled in the last 40 years and today, 2 in 4 people survive their cancer for at least 10 years. Cancer Research UK’s ambition is to accelerate progress so that by 2034, 3 in 4 people will survive their cancer for at least a decade.
Cancer Research UK is largely funded by donations, if you wish, you can make a regular or one off donation here.
