Chloe Smith MP pledges to be a Bowel Cancer Champion

 

Chloe Smith, Member of Parliament for Norwich North, has pledged to be a Bowel Cancer Champion to work for improvements for people affected by the disease.

 

A close member of Chloe's family was diagnosed with bowel cancer in Norfolk in 2012 and made a full recovery. 

 

Someone is diagnosed with bowel cancer every 15 minutes, making it the UK's fourth most common cancer. It's also the second biggest cancer killer, nearly 16,000 people die from the disease every year. Yet bowel cancer is treatable and curable especially if diagnosed early. However, only 15% are diagnosed at the earliest stage of the disease when the chance of survival is highest.

As a Bowel Cancer Champion, Chloe will work with Bowel Cancer UK - the UK’s leading bowel cancer research charity - to increase early diagnosis and improve access to best treatment and care both in Norwich and nationally. By working together with people affected by the disease and the clinical and research community, as well as MPs, the charity’s ambition is that by 2025, survival rates can be transformed from 60% of people surviving bowel cancer to 75%.

 

Chloe says: “It simply isn’t acceptable that so many people die from bowel cancer each year, and I know from family experience that this cancer can be picked up and treated.  That’s why I’m proud to be working with Bowel Cancer UK as a Bowel Cancer Champion.   Early diagnosis really does save lives."

 

Asha Kaur, Head of Policy & Campaigns at Bowel Cancer UK, says: “I’m delighted that Chloe Smith has pledged to become a Bowel Cancer Champion.  Chloe is a valuable ally in working for crucial improvements to services for bowel cancer patients both nationally and in Norwich.”