Hull MP joins fight to double lung cancer survival

Hull North MP Diana Johnson has joined forces with UK lung cancer experts to double lung cancer survival.

With November designated as Lung Cancer Awareness Month, Diana Johnson MP is working with the United Kingdom Lung Cancer Coalition (UKLCC) to support further Government action to improve the lives of lung cancer victims.

The UK has one of the worst lung cancer survival rates in Europe1 and only just under four percent (3.9%) of the current NHS cancer research budget is dedicated to lung cancer, 2 despite being the UK's biggest cancer killer.3

Diana Johnson MP said: "More women die from lung cancer than breast cancer3 and one in eight cases of lung cancer are among people who have never smoked4. With a large number of smokers across the city, Lung cancer is a major health issues in Hull. Moreover, you are four times more likely to survive lung cancer in some parts of the country than others and Hull suffers at the wrong end of these health inequality statistics.5

"I hope that this Lung Cancer Awareness Month will help put the disease in the political spotlight."

According to the UKLCC, thousands of lives can be saved over the next ten years by doubling current survival rates. Currently, just a quarter of people with lung cancer in England (25%) will live for a year and less than one in ten (7% in England) will still be alive five years after diagnosis.6,7

Dr Mick Peake, chair of the UKLCC and national clinical lead for lung cancer said: "We know if we apply the best standards of care already being demonstrated in some parts of the country, and if we diagnose people early, we can double one year and five year lung cancer survival rates by 2016. Thousands of lives could be saved as a result."

The UK Lung Cancer Coalition (UKLCC) is a powerful new coalition of the UK's leading lung cancer experts, senior NHS and Department of Health professionals, charities and healthcare companies. It is the UK's largest multi-interest group in lung cancer. This is the first time that all the major charities with an interest in lung cancer have come together. www.uklcc.org.uk

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