Sandra Gidley MP Joins Fight to Double Lung Cancer Survival

2.14.53pm GMT Wed 8th Nov 2006

MP Joins Fight to Double Lung Cancer Survival in Lung Cancer Awareness Month , November. Sandra Gidley, MP for Romsey, has joined forces with UK lung cancer experts to double lung cancer survival. She is working with the United Kingdom Lung Cancer Coalition (UKLCC) and other politicians to urge Government to improve the lives of people with lung cancer.

International statistics show (International Association of Cancer Research 2003) that the UK has one of the worst lung cancer survival rates in Europe. A report just out from the National Cancer Research Institute (16 October 2006) revealed only four percent of the current NHS cancer research budget is dedicated to lung cancer, despite being the UK's biggest cancer killer.

"Not many people know that more women die from lung cancer than breast cancer and that one in eight cases of lung cancer are among people who have never smoked. My father was one of those people." says Sandra Gidley MP. "This Lung Cancer Awareness Month we want to help put the disease in the political spotlight."

"The Government's own figures show people are four times more likely to survive lung cancer in some parts of the country than others - inequalities which are unacceptable given the severity of the disease", adds the MP.

National statistics show that a quarter of people with lung cancer in England (25%) will live for a year and less than one in ten (7% in England) will still be alive five years after diagnosis.

However, according to the UKLCC, such low survival rates could improve to doubling current rates.

"We know if we apply the best standards of care already being demonstrated in some parts of the country, and if we diagnose people early, we can double one year and five year lung cancer survival rates by 2016," says Dr Mick Peake, chair of the UKLCC and national clinical lead for lung cancer. "Thousands of lives could be saved as a result."

The UK Lung Cancer Coalition (UKLCC) is a powerful new coalition of the UK's leading lung cancer experts, senior NHS and Department of Health professionals, charities and healthcare companies. It is the UK's largest multi-interest group in lung cancer. This is the first time that all the major charities with an interest in lung cancer have come together. www.uklcc.org.uk