Henry Smith MP has reiterated his backing for Macmillan Cancer Support at the Conservative Party Conference and at a subsequent meeting in Parliament with a group of cancer organisations.

Henry said;

“Listening to Sarah and the team at Macmillan about the changing story of cancer shows just how vital it is that all patients get the right care and support.

“While we’ve made huge progress in recent years, there’s still much more to be done.

“I’m always pleased to meet Macmillan, and ‘do my bit’ of the puzzle to highlight how everyone can play a part in ‘helping to put lives back together’.”

In Crawley there are about 535 new cancer diagnoses each year and 261 deaths from the disease. Just under half of those diagnosed (49 per cent) survive for at least five years. As of the end of 2010, around 2,400 people were living up to 20 years after a cancer diagnosis. This could rise to an estimated 4,600 by 2030.

Henry is a member of the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Cancer, and has been the Chair of the APPG on Blood Cancer since its formation in June 2016. In these roles Henry meets with other MPs working as part of these Groups, as well as stakeholders including cancer charities.

At the Conservative Party Conference, Henry spoke with Sarah Cost, a former Macmillan Cancer Nurse Specialist, about her experiences of supporting cancer patients with a wide range of issues including consequences of treatment, emotional support and help with financial concerns.

Henry heard about the growing number of people living with and beyond cancer in the UK, which is set to rise from 2.5 million to 4 million by 2030.

Many people living with cancer, or beyond the disease, are not living well.  As the number of people getting, and surviving, cancer increases, the support provided by Macmillan, the NHS and other organisations will become even more important.

The England Cancer Strategy, published last year, contains a wide range of recommendations which will help to improve outcomes right across the cancer pathway.

For support, to find information or to ask a question, please call Macmillan Cancer Support free on 0808 808 00 00 (Monday to Friday, 9am–8pm) or visit www.macmillan.org.uk