Charity welcomes Liberal Democrats leader’s cancer pledge after he revealed insight into blood cancer experience
Ed Davey, the Liberal Democrats party leader, announced a pledge to a Cancer Survival Research Act at the close of the Liberal Democrats party conference.
The gathering in Bournemouth heard of pledges for a cross-party consensus on a proposed five-year plan to improve cancer survival rates.
Davey shared his experience of losing both his parents to cancer, including his dad from Hodgkin lymphoma - a form of blood cancer.
“My family’s story isn’t unique. There are millions of us whose lives get turned upside down by cancer”
- Ed Davey, Liberal Democrats party leader
Blood Cancer UK's expert reaction
Laura Challinor, Senior Policy and Public Affairs Manager at Blood Cancer UK, said:
“Speaking up about your own personal experience of blood cancer isn’t easy. By bravely talking about losing his dad to Hodgkin lymphoma, a type of blood cancer, during his keynote party conference speech, Ed Davey highlighted the very real and devastating impact blood cancer can have on families across the country. Blood cancer is the UK’s fifth most common cancer, yet it remains a hidden cancer and there’s still much work we need to do to raise the profile of the condition and fund vital research.
Speaking up about your own personal experience of blood cancer isn’t easy
- Laura Challinor
“Blood cancer is currently the third biggest cancer killer, and so we welcome the new proposal of a Cancer Survival Research Act. We also know that lengthening waiting times are a source of worry and a barrier to improving outcomes for people with blood cancer, so we were pleased to see commitments on improving delays to cancer treatment. As the national blood cancer charity we look forward to working with Ed Davey and all those in Parliament to bring forward the day that no lives are lost from blood cancer.”
Hodgkin lymphoma is a type of blood cancer that affects white blood cells called lymphocytes.