​Three years ago, my daughter Deborah passed away at the age of 40 from bowel cancer. Not a day goes by that I don’t think of her – and how proud I am of her achievements. From telling anyone who would listen to ‘check your poo!’, to raising millions of pounds for vital research, and campaigning tirelessly for people affected by cancer.​

Thank you to everyone who joined our family last year in calling for a long-term cancer strategy for England. The UK Government has now committed to one, bringing hope to all of us affected by cancer. We must make the most of this opportunity to shape the next decade of the government’s plans.

​Waiting times targets are being missed, meaning that every month hundreds of people wait too long for diagnosis and treatment for bowel cancer. Things have been gradually improving, but not fast enough.​

A report by Cancer Research UK recently found that the percentage of cancers being diagnosed at an early stage in England has hardly changed for almost a decade. We can’t let another 10 years pass with no progress. Around 9 in 10 people diagnosed with bowel cancer at the earliest stage will survive their disease for ten years or more, but this falls to less than 1 in 10 at the latest stage. The plan needs to commit to diagnosing more cancers earlier and be backed by dedicated funding.​

I know Deborah would echo our call for the UK Government to make sure the upcoming cancer plan helps to give more people more time with the people they love. People affected by cancer deserve better, and we can get there.
Please join us in calling on the Health Secretary to make the National Cancer Plan the turning point for cancer we need, by signing Cancer Research UK’s open letter.