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The Cancer campaigning Group(CCG) is an influential coalition of 35 national cancer-related charities, including Pancreatic Cancer UK, led by a steering group comprising Breast Cancer Campaign, British Lung Foundation, Cancer Research UK, Cancerbackup, and Macmillan Cancer Support.
The CCG, while recognising the many significant successes of the 2000 NHS Cancer Plan, believes strongly that it needs to be updated in the face of new cancer care and treatment challenges, and a changed public health environment.
The CCG launched its campaign calling for a second cancer plan in 2005. More information about the CCG can be found on the website www.cancercampaigninggroup.org.uk.
Last July the CCG undertook its own 'Green Paper' consultation on the future of cancer services, asking patients, professionals and experts to identify where improvements could be made in current cancer policy. Responses highlighted the need to tackle the huge differences in survival rates between cancers, and the persistent socio-economic inequalities affecting prevention, research, care and treatment.
In November 2006 at the All Party Parliamentary Group on Cancer "Britain Against Cancer" meeting Patricia Hewitt announced plans for a "Cancer Reform Strategy".
After its "Green Paper" consultation amongst its member charities and views of others involved in cancer policy including patients, carers, health professionals, academics and researchers the CCG produced a White Paper "Getting it Right for People with Cancer: What the Voluntary Sector wants from the Cancer Reform Strategy" which was launched at the House of Commons on Tuesday, 20 March 2007. White Paper(pdf).
The 'White Paper' covers all areas of cancer prevention, care, treatment, information and support, and research.
Pancreatic Cancer UK has been able to use this opportunity to raise the profile and highlight the needs of the neglected and poor survival cancers such as pancreatic cancer.
This has complemented discussions over the past few years between Pancreatic Cancer UK and members of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Cancer and the National Cancer Director and chair of the NCRI, Professor Mike Richards.
Dr Ian Gibson chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Cancer tabled an Early Day Motion on 19th March 2007
"That this House commends the work of the Cancer Campaigning Group (CCG) and its White Paper Getting it right for people with cancer; acknowledges that the CCG's Campaign for a Second Cancer Plan has set a new benchmark for third sector unity and achievement; hopes that the White Paper will inform the current development of the Cancer Reform Strategy, particularly to improve progress for rare and poor survival cancers and to reduce inequalities; notes that considerable improvements in outcomes for people with cancer could be achieved with more efficient targeting and distribution of resources, using the tools available within the reformed NHS; and calls for sustained increases in investment in prevention, research and care and treatment, to improve the lives of all people with cancer. "
Pancreatic Cancer UK was represented at the launch of the White Paper by trustee Dr Ian Kemp and patient Trace Allen who were able to again raise the needs for pancreatic cancer with Dr Ian Gibson (chair of APPGC), Professor Mike Richards and Rosie Winterton, Minister of State for Health Services.
 
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