Grayson signs cancer pledge

1.00.00am GMT Thu 25th Feb 2010

Richard Grayson has signed up to Cancer Research UK's Cancer Commitment, aiming to make UK cancer outcomes among the best in Europe in the next ten years.

Dr Grayson said: "I am very pleased to support Cancer Research UK's vital campaign. Cancer is the public's number one health fear. In the next Parliament, there needs to be a concerted effort to give hope to the millions of people affected by cancer and their friends and family."

More than one in three people in Hemel Hempstead will develop some form of cancer during their lifetime. In the last thirty years, the UK's 10-year survival rates have doubled but cancer survival rates still lag behind the best performing countries in Europe such as Sweden, Norway and Finland.

The Cancer Commitment calls on MPs in the next Parliament to take action in five key areas:

· Detecting cancer earlier

· Providing world class treatment

· Preventing more cancers

· Tackling cancer inequalities

· Protecting the UK's research base

Jon Spiers, Head of Public Affairs and Campaigning at Cancer Research UK, said "To consign today's cancer challenges to tomorrow's history books, we must act now. Our thousands of scientists and our millions of supporters are hoping to see MPs in the next Parliament step up to the challenge."

For information on Cancer Research UK's Commit To Beat Cancer campaign, visit: www.CommitToBeatCancer.org