Turning Point For Cancer campaign

THANK YOU

Thank you to everyone who signed the open letter to the Health Secretary in 2025. Here's what we did next. In October, Alistair joined Cancer Research UK volunteer campaigns ambassadors, staff and the charity’s CEO Michelle Mitchell at West Ham’s Stadium in Stratford to highlight the 74,000 people in England who weren’t treated for cancer on time last year – more than enough to fill the stadium on a match day. Alistair and the group then travelled to @dhscgovuk in Westminster to hand in the letter signed by an amazing 35,000 supporters and people affected by cancer. Not only are too many people currently waiting too long for vital tests and treatments, but the percentage of cancers being diagnosed at an early stage, when there is a greater chance of survival, has hardly changed for almost a decade. People affected by cancer deserve better and, with a bold, ambitious and fully-funded cancer plan for England, we believe we can get there. It’s now time for the government to take action. We'll keep you updated with information about the National Cancer Plan once it's been released. #TurningPointForCancer

A Message from Dame Deborah James's Dad, Alistair

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.

Thank you to everyone who signed CRUK's open letter calling on the Health Secretary to make the National Cancer Plan the turning point for cancer we need.

“Every month, waiting times targets are missed, and too many people wait too long for diagnosis and treatment for bowel cancer. Not only this, but the percentage of cancers being diagnosed at an early stage have remained unchanged for almost a decade. This is important because early diagnosis saves lives.

The UK Government can help give more people more time with the people they love. That’s why we’re asking others to join us in signing Cancer Research UK’s open letter to the Health Secretary. We need a plan that’s ambitious and backed by funding to make earlier diagnosis a reality for everyone affected by cancer."

Alistair James, Deborah's Dad.