John Baron MP attends launch of “Hear Me Now” for BME prostate cancer

MP attends Parliamentary reception about cancer and inequality

John Baron MP recently attended the Parliamentary reception hosted by BME Cancer Communities to raise awareness about prostate cancer generally and inequality specifically. BME is a social enterprise which aims to address inequalities within black and minority ethnic [BME] and low income communities.

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer diagnosed in men in the UK and the second common cause of death. Over the last 40 years prostate cancer rates in the UK have more than tripled. “Hear Me Now” is a report which highlights that prostate cancer is also a health inequality. In the UK, Black African-Caribbean men have 3 times greater risk of developing the cancer and a 30% higher death rate than White men.

John said:

“Eradicating the inequalities gap in cancer can only improve our survival rates statistics overall. The Government’s strategy of saving an extra 5,000 lives every year by 2014/2015 rests in part on making equality a priority for NHS cancer services. I therefore applaud BME for their research.”

Ends

Word Count: 187

Date: 29^th May 2013

Notes to Editors

The photograph shows John speaking at the BME parliamentary reception.

John Baron MP is Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group [APPG] on Cancer