Mark Pawsey MP pledged his support to help save lives from bowel cancer at Bowel Cancer UK’s recent event in The Houses of Parliament. The event was hosted by John Baron, MP on behalf of the charity which was marking its 25th Anniversary and launching its report 2025 Challenge: Saving and Improving Lives.
Over 100 guests were in attendance at the event including a host of Parliamentarians and supporters of Bowel Cancer UK. Speeches highlighting the need to raise awareness of this disease were given by John Baron MP, Bowel Cancer UK Patient Ambassador, Barbara Moss, Bowel Cancer UK CEO Deborah Alsina and ITV news presenter and Bowel Cancer UK Ambassador Charlene White.
Mark said:
“I am very keen to support the bowel cancer campaign; the disease has affected my own family and I therefore have personal experience of the affects it has on the lives of those who suffer.”
He continued:
“I am supportive of the NHS Colorectal Cancer Screening Pilot scheme, which has been piloted at the Hospital of St. Cross in my Constituency. Home testing kits have been sent to local men and women aged between 50-69 years of age to test for early signs of colorectal (bowel) cancer, and so far the response from the public has been extremely positive.”
He concluded:
“By raising awareness of the symptoms, and testing for the early signs of the disease, I hope that more lives can be saved.”
Bowel cancer is the UK’s second biggest cancer killer, and the overall five-year survival rate of those diagnosed is just over 50% 1. However, in its new report, Bowel Cancer UK states that the Government could cut deaths from bowel cancer by 60% by 2025 if it followed its recommendations. Bowel Cancer UK's ambition is also for an additional 2,500 people with bowel cancer per year living for at least five years after diagnosis by 2025.