John Baron MP joins ‘Biggest Fight Against Bone Cancer’ campaign

John and Jamie ‘squaring up’ to bone cancer.

MP supports campaign to raise awareness.

As Chairman of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Cancer, John Baron MP recently attended a Bone Cancer Research Trust Parliamentary Reception. John heard that every year in the UK and Ireland around 600 new cases of primary bone cancer are diagnosed and around 300 people die from these cancers. Young people are most likely to be affected as the disease has a peak incidence between the ages of 10 to 24 years old.

John also heard from Jamie Wood, a former bone cancer patient and amateur boxer who was diagnosed with Ewing Sarcoma in 2010. Jamie underwent 16 courses of chemotherapy and 3 major operations as part of his treatment. The attached photo shows John and Jamie ‘squaring up’.

John said,

“Survival rates for bone cancer have remained unchanged for over 25 years. Furthermore, patients who survive the disease often face disability as a result of life-altering surgery and treatment. It was therefore good to hear more about the crucial work that the Bone Cancer Research Trust is doing to improve early diagnosis and treatment options.”

“I shared with the charity our work in Parliament to encourage the NHS to diagnose earlier – ‘early diagnosis’ being cancer’s magic key. Our campaign to get one year survival figures in the DNA of the NHS has been a success. It is now time to ensure the NHS focuses on early diagnosis to improve these figures.”

Jamie Wood, former bone cancer patient and amateur boxer said,

“Against the odds, I’ve beaten bone cancer and even returned to the boxing ring. Now I want MPs to understand what bone cancer patients go through and to back The Biggest Fight Against Bone Cancer to help raise much-needed awareness and funds.”

Mat Cottle-Shaw, Head of Fundraising and Communications said,

“We look forward to working with John in the future to help raise vital awareness of bone cancer in Basildon and Billericay.”