To give an idea of the political value attached to cancer, David Cameron used the word ‘cancer’ 92 times in the House of Commons during his first 5-year term as Prime Minister. Compared to 14 mentions of Dementia, 8 for diabetes and 27 for disease.[i] The treatments available on the NHS for cancer patients are not only subject to rapidly evolving science but also significant political interest.
The new government will be working closely with key experts and organisations on a way to ensure cancer patients can benefit from the best that science and medicine has to offer. Asking the NHS to keep up with rapid progress in cancer research may be challenging, but it is also rightly expected.
Subscribe to The New Statesman today from only £8.99 per month