Pancreatic cancer is the deadliest common cancer. Right now, 80% of people are diagnosed with pancreatic cancer too late for life saving treatment, and half die within three months.
Achieving earlier diagnosis is key to improving survival rates. The new National Cancer Plan for England presents a real opportunity for change.
As an MP you can raise this issue with the Secretary of State using our template letter.
You can also contact policy@panceaticcancer.org.uk for suggestions of parliamentary questions on this topic.
Dear Secretary of State,
I am writing to you on behalf of my constituents, who have contacted me to set out the urgent need to improve early detection of pancreatic cancer.
As I’m sure you are aware, pancreatic cancer is the deadliest common cancer. Half of people die within three months of diagnosis. Without urgent action, pancreatic cancer will claim 50,000 more lives over the course of this Parliament and will overtake breast cancer as the fourth biggest cancer killer.
However, your Department’s new National Cancer Plan for England presents a real opportunity for change.
A number of my constituents are supporting Pancreatic Cancer UK’s Unite. Diagnose. Save Lives. campaign which is asking your Department are to make the following three commitments as part of your new National Cancer Plan for England:
- Invest in and roll out surveillance programmes for those at the highest risk of developing pancreatic cancer. This should include the roll out of national surveillance for people with a family history of pancreatic cancer and of case finding in people with new-onset diabetes (NOD) and weight loss.
- Invest in and roll out new blood, urine and breath biomarker tests within suspected cancer pathways, based on the outcomes of emerging clinical trials and evidence – for example, the promising Imperial College London study looking at how breath samples taken in a GP surgery could pick up pancreatic cancer earlier.
- Commit at least £35 million every year to pancreatic cancer research for the next 20 years. This sustained funding is essential because meaningful research breakthroughs require continuous, reliable investment over many years to support the full cycle of research: from bench to bedside.
What plans does your Department have to take action to improve survival for pancreatic cancer and the other less survivable cancers?
Should you wish to receive any further information about how you and your Department can improve early diagnosis of pancreatic cancer, the policy team at Pancreatic Cancer UK would be happy to provide this – please email policy@pancreaticcancer.org.uk.
I look forward to receiving your response.
Best wishes,
[MP NAME]