Cancer sufferers and campaigners won the backing of Chesterfield’s Labour MP Toby Perkins at an event today in the Houses of Parliament hosted by Macmillan Cancer Care.

Hearing that one in two people develop cancer in their lifetime was just one of the shocking figures and highlighted the importance of a coherent and effective strategy to combat cancer.

The campaigners also spoke of the heartbreak of missed treatment due to record cancer backlogs and urged government to do more to address it.

In June 2023, 71.7% of people started cancer treatment at Chesterfield Royal Hospital within 62 days of their urgent referral. This is sadly below the expected standard of 85% and comes in light of decades of Tory cuts to the NHS and public services.

Toby said: “I am incredibly proud to support Macmillan in their tireless work. Cancer touches every one of us. My mother died of lung cancer at just 62 and so I know that cancer waiting times can be literally a matter of life and death. I was especially happy to hear that initiatives like Macmillan’s support line have helped support 155 people in Chesterfield to navigate their cancer care.”

He added “Every year, around 700 people are diagnosed with cancer in Chesterfield. I look forward to continuing to endorse the campaigns of Macmillan and to support them in any way I can at a local level and in Parliament”