CANCER CHARITY'S CAMPAIGN IS SPOT ON TO SAVE LIVES SAYS FARRON

A cancer campaigner from Burton in Kendal met with South Lakes MP Tim Farron at a major event in Parliament staged to highlight the importance of detecting the disease early.

Philippa Davies was one of 74 Cancer Research UK Ambassadors who came face to face with their MP on Wednesday November 3 under the banner of the Commit to Beat Cancer campaign.

Philippa, aged 40, said: "I'm really excited to have taken part in Cancer Research UK's lobby, because I know that this is one way that I can make a real difference. Too many people in Westmorland and Lonsdale have been affected by cancer in some way, and I'm one of them, so I feel proud that today I was able to give them a voice. I travelled to Westminster today to talk about the fact that around 10,000 deaths could be avoided each year in the UK if we diagnosed cancer earlier. This is because when cancer is diagnosed at an early stage, treatment is almost always simpler and more likely to be effective. And that's why I'm here today, to make sure that more lives can be saved in the future."

The UK's cancer survival rates are worse than Europe's best performing countries and this is partly because we diagnose cancer later.

Firstly, she called on the Government to commit to beating cancer by giving GPs greater access to the tests they need to diagnose cancer. Secondly, she called for the Government to accurately record the stage at which the majority of patients' cancers are diagnosed. This will help monitor trends and drive progress on early diagnosis more quickly in poor performing areas.

Tim Farron MP said: "One in three people can expect a cancer diagnosis in their lifetime, and I want to make sure we're all doing what we can to reduce that number. Every family is sadly touched by cancer, my own family has been and it has deeply impacted on me. Earlier diagnosis is a crucial way to help more people survive cancer. It was an honour to meet Philippa, and listen to her story. I am also delighted that we are continuing to make progress towards the opening of the cancer unit in Kendal."

The Commit to Beat Cancer campaign identifies five main ways that cancer survival rates can be improved - preventing more cancers, tackling inequalities, protecting the science research base, providing access to world class treatment and finally, the focus for the lobby, detecting cancer earlier.