Nuneaton MP Marcus Jones joined forces with dedicated cancer campaigners from Nuneaton to highlight Cancer Research UK’s ambition to help more people survive.

He met Julie and Sarah Gurney to find out the part he could play could play in helping to achieve Cancer Research UK’s ambition that within 20years three in four of all cancer patients diagnosed will survive at least ten years.

Marcus Jones MP said: “It was a pleasure to meet Julie and Sarah and listen to their story. I want to do what I can to help beat cancer sooner.”

There have been major advances in the fight against cancer over the last 40 years and Cancer Research UK’s work has been at the heart of that progress. 

Two in four people diagnosed with cancer today in the UK will survive their disease for at least ten years, compared to just one in four in the early 1970s.

In the West Midlands, this means that around 14,000* people each year can now expect to survive the disease for at least ten years.

But despite the successes, Cancer Research UK believes much more can be done to help more people in the West Midlands and across the UK beat cancer sooner. 

Julie and Sarah were two of over 100 Cancer Research UK Ambassadors who came to Westminster in early July to meet their MPs and highlight the importance of parliamentary support to accelerate progress in the fight against cancer.

Sarah, aged 25 aged and a student nurse, said: “I’m really excited to have taken part in Cancer Research UK’s day of action, because I know that this is a great way to help make a difference.

“I feel passionate about supporting Cancer Research UK’s work. So many people are diagnosed with cancer and it’s vital that we do all we can to help save more lives.

“A late diagnosis meant I had two years of treatment and uncertainty. Early diagnosis could have prevented this.”

She continued: “It was fantastic to meet our MP Marcus Jones and discuss our reasons for becoming Cancer Research UK Campaigns Ambassadors and why early diagnosis matters to us personally. Cancer Research UK is making huge progress but we need the help and support of MPs like Marcus to help more cancer patients survive.”

Julie and Sarah urged Marcus to write to the Secretary of State for Health, Jeremy Hunt MP, asking him to back measures to improve early diagnosis, including public awareness campaigns and increased participation in the bowel cancer screening programme.

Marcus Jones said: “The charity’s pioneering work into the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of cancer is helping to save millions of lives. It’s vital that we continue to support their work and do everything we can to help beat cancer sooner.”

For more information on how to get involved in Cancer Research UK’s campaigning work, visit cruk.org/campaigns