June 2008: Campaigners show politicians that Screening Matters

Over the past three months CancerCampaigners have been bombarding MPs, MSPs and Welsh Assembly Members with emails in support of our Screening Matters campaign.

Through our website campaigners have been able to send a pre-written email to their local elected representative and we’ve had a huge response. Over 8,200 emails have been sent to MPs in England, over 7,300 to MSPs in Scotland and more than 1,600 to AMs in Wales.

In Wales we are campaigning on bowel cancer screening. The Minister for Health, Edwina Hart, has responded to our call by giving further detail on the roll out of the programme. We are liaising with the Minister about timelines for the roll out.

In Scotland and England we wanted to find out more about local provision and uptake of cancer screening. Emails asked MPs and MSPs to write to their local PCT or Health Board respectively. We’ve already had a wonderful response and are beginning to put together a report on the local situation and best practice in screening services.

If you emailed your MP, MSP or AM about Screening Matters and have had a response we’d love to see it! Please contact us to let us know.

March 2008: CancerCampaigns Ambassadors take Parliament by storm

The first ever lobby by CancerCampaigns Ambassadors took place on Wednesday 26 March in the Houses of Parliament.

The sixteen Cancer Research UK supporters, who acted as Ambassadors for the Screening Matters campaign, came from across England and spanned 9 of the 10 Strategic Health Authorities.

As well as signing the Early Day Motion in support of the campaign and meeting with the Chief Executive of their PCT to discuss local screening programmes, MPs promised to visit a local screening unit or community group to raise awareness of the issue. In addition to this, a parliamentary question is in the offing as well as a meeting with the Minister, Ann Keen MP, about specific screening issues.

March 2008: Screening announcements in Northern Ireland

Michael McGimpsey MLA, Minister for Health, Social Services and Public Safety, announced in January that "a range of screening programmes will be introduced to ensure early detection and diagnosis, improving recovery rates and, more importantly, saving lives. The budget will result in:

• Introduction of Bowel Cancer Screening with effect from 2009, saving up to 70 lives each year
• Extended age range for breast cancer screening from 65 to 70
• Introduction of HPV vaccination programme and catch-up programme – preventing up to 70% of cervical cancers and saving around 20 lives"

We are currently considering how best we push the Screening Matters campaign further in light of these announcements.

February 2008: Campaigners urged to send emails to show politicians that Screening Matters

The CancerCampaigns Team have started asking supporters of the Screening Matters campaign to email their MP about the importance of cancer screening.

This new phase of the campaign will take the calls of Screening Matters direct to politicians to show them how strongly their constituents feel about the campaign.

Cancer Research UK welcomes the Cancer Reform Strategy

The Government has announced the publication of the Cancer Reform Strategy (CRS) setting out a five-year national plan for cancer in England. In 2006 almost 300,000 people signed a petition in support of Cancer Research UK's Cancer 2020 campaign, which called on the Government to revisit and update the 2000 NHS Cancer Plan. The petition was handed in to 10 Downing St days before the public commitment to develop the Cancer Reform Strategy in November 2006.

The CRS contains a wide range of policies aimed at tackling cancer in England including an investment of £130m into radiotherapy services, action on sunbed use, tobacco regulation and a commitment to get drugs approved and onto the NHS faster. The strategy was developed in collaboration with Cancer Research UK and other cancer charities.

Harpal Kumar, Chief Executive of Cancer Research UK, said: "Cancer Research UK was one of the many expert groups involved in developing the strategy so we look forward to working with the NHS to deliver these recommendations. It’s vital that these proposals are followed through if we’re to become among the best in the world at treating cancer."

For more information see our press statement.

October 2007: Gloria Hunniford shows her support for Screening Matters

Radio and TV presenter and long-term Cancer Research UK supporter Gloria Hunniford has recorded a clip in support of our Screening Matters campaign. Gloria tells us why screening is so important, what the campaign aims to do and how you can get involved in saving more lives through cancer screening.

Why not listen to the clip and find out how screening saves lives?

If you haven’t already done so, please sign the Screening Matters pledge today and encourage friends and family to do the same.

September 2007: Big steps for Screening Matters campaign

Two months after the launch of our Screening Matters campaign, the government has announced proposals to reduce waiting times in cervical screening and extend breast and bowel screening in England.

Announced by Gordon Brown in his first party conference speech as Prime Minister, the plans will include:

• extending the age range of women eligible for breast screening to ages 47 to 73 over time. The current age range is 50 to 70.
• extending the age of bowel screening from 70 up to 75 years from 2010.
• cervical screening results within 14 days. At present, over half of patients wait six weeks or more for their results.
• a guaranteed appointment with a specialist within two weeks of referral for all patients with breast problems, not just those with suspected cancer.

Harpal Kumar, chief executive of Cancer Research UK, said:

"These will have a significant impact on survival from cancer, and we are delighted that the Government is responding to many of the calls we have been making in our Screening Matters campaign over the last few months."