MP SPREADS THE WORD THAT
SCREENING MATTERS
Angus MP Mike Weir pledged to support Cancer Research UK’s new Screening
Matters campaign at a special parliamentary event.
The campaign aims to highlight the importance of the three NHS cancer
screening programmes for breast, bowel and cervical cancer.
Cancer Research UK also spoke to the Angus MP about the importance of access
to information.
Mike Weir MP said: “I welcome the current roll out of bowel cancer screening
in Scotland which should be completed in 2009. Studies have demonstrated
that screening is effective and really does save lives but we could save
even more. So, it’s essential that this goes hand-in-hand with effective
public information to raise people’s awareness of the programme and how
important it is that they take part.
“I have added my pledge for Cancer Research UK’s Screening Matters campaign,
where over 100,000 people have signed up to so far. I am encouraging local
people to get involved too by signing their own pledge at
www.cancercampaigns.org.uk.”
Sara Hiom, Cancer Research UK’s Director of Health Information, said: “We
are very grateful for Mike’s support for our Screening Matters campaign.
Screening enables cancer to be detected earlier or even prevented from
developing. This is crucial because the earlier a cancer is detected, the
better a person’s chance of survival.
“We welcome the introduction of the bowel screening programme as screening
for bowel cancer can reduce the risk of cancer mortality by 16 per cent, or
approximately one in six bowel cancer deaths. As the bowel cancer screening
programme is rolled out it is vital that people aged 50-74 are made aware
they are able to access this type of screening.”
The Screening Matters campaign highlights the particular areas where Cancer
Research UK would like the Government to take most urgent action on, seeking
commitments to:
Screen at least three million more people over the next five years.
Reduce the variation in screening across the UK.
Reach out to people eligible for screening who aren’t taking part.
Provide the best possible screening programmes through funding, staffing and
measuring success.”
Screening Matters is a new campaign co-ordinated by Cancer Research UK in
partnership with Beating Bowel Cancer, the Bobby Moore Fund, Bowel Cancer
UK, Breakthrough Breast Cancer, Breast Cancer Campaign, Breast Cancer Care
and Jo’s Trust.
ENDS
For more information, please contact Cancer Research UK’s Public Affairs
Officer Tracey Loftis on 020 7061 8524 or tracey.loftis@cancer.org.uk.
Breast screening
Breast cancer is the most common cancer for women in the UK.
Breast screening detects around 1000 cancers every year in Scotland.
In the UK, the mortality rate in females from breast cancer has fallen by
almost 30% since 1990.
Cervical screening
Since 1987, there has been a drop of 40% in the mortality rate in Scotland
from cervical cancer.
Over 300,000 women aged 20-60 are invited to attend the cervical screening
every year in Scotland.
The number of cases of cervical cancer in Scotland has fallen by more than
40% since 1987.
Bowel cancer screening
Bowel cancer screening for both men and women aged 50 to 74, will be fully
rolled out in Scotland by 2009
It is estimated that it will prevent at least 150 deaths from bowel cancer
each year in Scotland.
For further information about Cancer Research UK's work or to find out how
to support the charity, please call 08701 602040 or visit
www.cancerresearchuk.org.uk