Steve Brine joined members of the All Party Group on Cancer on Wednesday 5th July to discuss his aims as the new Cancer Minister.
The Winchester & Chandler's Ford MP began by paying tribute to John Baron MP, who chairs the group, and set out how one year cancer survival rates are at a record high of 70%, while the number of people seen by a specialist for suspected cancer following an urgent referral by their GP is up 108% since 2010.
He also told the meeting how adults diagnosed with melanoma of the skin, prostate and breast cancer in the earliest stage, stage 1, now have one year survival that is comparable to the general population of the same age who have not been diagnosed with cancer.
He said: "Progress is really encouraging on early diagnosis thanks to our Be Clear on Cancer Campaigns, our world renowned cancer screening programmes, and NICE guidance urging GPs to think of cancer sooner.
"The new 28-day faster diagnosis standard is being tested across four health economies and I am excited to see the leadership that comes from our new Cancer Alliances.
"The first 23 hospitals received new or upgraded linear accelerators for radiotherapy in early 2017, and over 50 new radiotherapy machines in at least 34 hospitals will be rolled out over the next 18 months."
Mr Brine went on to discuss the thirteenth national Be Clear on Cancer campaign, which is underway for respiratory symptoms, focusing on the symptoms of a persistent cough and inappropriate breathlessness. The campaign covers lung cancer along with other conditions such as heart disease and lung disease.
He said: "Since October 2010, we have invested more than £1.5 billion in the Cancer Drugs Fund, which has helped over 100,000 people in England to access life-extending cancer drugs that would not otherwise have been available to them.
"And I am sure you know, a deal has now been struck with Roche to make the breast cancer drug KAD-SILA available to 1,200 women a year."
He also welcomed the Chief Medical Officer's independent report on genomics. Over the last five years, the UK has established itself as a global leader in genomic medicine – which means tens of thousands of patients across the country getting quicker diagnosis, more precise treatment and better care. One of the recommendations in the report is that there should be a Minister-led Board on these issues, and Steve confirmed the government will be taking that forward.
He added: "What I want to see during my time as the Cancer Minister is a ruthless focus on delivering the priorities of the cancer strategy and from all of us in Government a determination to take on cancer with the same resolve we've all seen from those we love who are living with and beyond cancer."
