Rishi Sunak paid a visit to the Yorkshire Cancer Research shop in Northallerton, highlighting the crucial role the charity plays in addressing regional cancer inequalities.
The MP for Richmond and Northallerton met employees and volunteers who run the shop in the High Street. He also spoke to people who have been affected by cancer and now help raise funds to bring the latest advances in diagnosis and treatment to Yorkshire.
Yorkshire Cancer Research said people in the county are more likely to be diagnosed with cancer than in most other parts of England, while in rural areas, challenges such as limited access to healthcare, travel difficulties, occupational constraints and fewer opportunities to participate in research can lead to delayed diagnoses and lower survival rates.
Dr Kathryn Scott, chief executive at the charity, said: “I was delighted to welcome Mr Sunak to the charity’s Northallerton shop. His interest underscores the importance of the charity’s mission to find new cancer cures and treatments and bring them to people in Yorkshire, and beyond.
“Collectively, with the support of volunteers and fundraisers across the region, we are driving meaningful change. However, it is critical that the Government takes notice of the unique issues affecting Yorkshire’s diverse communities and tailors its upcoming Ten Year Health Plan and National Cancer Plan to address regional disparities.”
Mr Sunak also spoke to world-leading prostate cancer expert James Catto, professor of urology at the University of Sheffield and Honorary Consultant Urological Surgeon at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust.
Professor Catto is leading a multimillion-pound clinical trial funded by Yorkshire Cancer Research called IMProVE, which aims to gather evidence to help introduce a national screening programme for prostate cancer.
Mr Sunak said: “The evidence gathered should assist our wider efforts to introduce a national screening programme for this disease.
“We need it in Yorkshire more than most. Men in Yorkshire are significantly more likely to be diagnosed with late-stage prostate cancer than men living in London. Nearly a quarter (23 per cent) of men in Yorkshire have advanced cancer when they are diagnosed, compared to 15 per cent in the capital.”
Among the volunteers who met Mr Sunak was Helen Gardiner, treasurer of the charity’s Vale Volunteer Group, which has raised £200,000 for pioneering research since it was formed in 2006.
She became passionate about improving the diagnosis and treatment of cancer in Yorkshire after her sister and mother died from ovarian cancer.
Her father-in-law was also treated for prostate cancer, and she says he would “probably not be here today” had he not pursued a diagnosis through private healthcare.
Helen, who lives in the Northallerton area, said: “Local communities around the country have different issues when it comes to cancer, so it’s vital that we have regional charities that can identify these nuances and address them.
“Yorkshire Cancer Research is helping to bring to the fore the particular needs of Yorkshire. This is important for the north of England and particularly for rural settings, which often miss out on the latest research and developments.”
The IMProVE trial, led in partnership with Professor Peter Sasieni CBE at Queen Mary University of London, is investigating whether a prostate screening programme that combines blood tests with MRI scans could save lives and if so, how it can be organised to reduce health inequalities.
Mr Sunak recently has joined Prostate Cancer Research as an ambassador, to champion the charity's campaign for the introduction of a national screening programme for high-risk men.
