John Baron MP backs campaign to save lives from England’s biggest cancer killer

MP highlights postcode lottery and lung cancer survival rates

 As Chairman of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Cancer, John Baron MP today backed calls to save lives from England’s biggest cancer killer by tackling variations in lung cancer services in England. Your chance of surviving lung cancer depends on where you live in the country, according to a new report from The Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation recently launched in the Houses of Parliament. The ‘Explaining Variations in Lung Cancer in England’ report shines a spotlight on the postcode lottery that exists in lung cancer. 

 John said:

 “Someone dies from lung cancer every 15 minutes in the UK.  I commend The Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation’s new report which shows that we need to urgently tackle the unacceptable postcode lottery in lung cancer. Everyone deserves to have good quality care, no matter where they live.” 

 “We need to do more to make sure that people with lung cancer are diagnosed early, when the chances of curative treatment are at their best.  I’d encourage everyone to be aware of the signs and symptoms and to go to their doctor if they are concerned.   There’s nothing to lose by getting checked out – and everything to gain.”

 “And we need to make sure that, when someone is diagnosed, they have a good experience of care, including access to a lung cancer specialist nurse to support them and their families.”

 Dr Rosemary Gillespie, chief executive of The Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation, said:

 “Despite recent advances, lung cancer remains a devastating disease and the most common cause of cancer death in England. Your chance of surviving lung cancer and receiving a treatment which could benefit you should not be decided by where you live in the country. Sadly, it is clear that this is indeed the case and there is significant geographical variation in patient survival and patient access to care and treatment.”

“We hope this report will act as a tool to help bring those areas with a poorer service and outcomes up to the standard of the best, so we can improve the experience of all lung cancer patients and save lives.”

The report was developed using existing data to give a local picture of lung cancer outcomes, services and care.

 A full copy of the report is available by visiting www.roycastle.org or calling 0151 254 7200 to request a copy.