Last week I joined the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Radiotherapy, supported by the #CatchUpWithCancer campaign, to learn about the latest cancer waiting time data and the huge benefits radiotherapy offers.

A delegation of cancer professionals and campaigners, in collaboration with the APPG for Radiotherapy, unveiled new analysis of recent cancer waiting times across the UK, to show the extent of the cancer crisis.

In England, the Government has set a target of no more than 15% of cancer patients waiting longer than the recommended 62-day wait between the date the hospital receives an urgent referral for suspected cancer and the start of the treatment. Latest cancer waiting time figures, released on 10 November 2022 by NHS England and analysed by the #CatchUpWithCancer campaign, shows that in the latest quarter, over 17,000 patients across England were waiting beyond the 62-day target.

International research shows that for every four weeks of delay, chances of survival for cancer patients falls by an average of 10%. That is why I am supporting the APPG for Radiotherapy, Radiotherapy UK and the #CatchUpWithCancer campaign in their calls to Government to invest in radiotherapy, boost cancer treatment services and tackle the growing cancer backlog.

To find out more about this important campaign, please visit https://radiotherapy.org.uk/get-involved/catchupwithcancer/