SDLP Foyle MP Mark Durkan has co-sponsored a parliamentary motion at Westminster supporting Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month (November) which calls on the government to do more to bring about long-overdue improvements to pancreatic cancer awareness, diagnosis, treatment, care and research.
Mr Durkan, who is Vice-Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Cancer,said: “I am delighted to support Pancreatic Awareness Month.
“I would like take this opportunity to congratulate all pancreatic cancer charities and their supporters for the various activities being carried out to raise awareness of the disease during November.
“This includes Pancreatic Cancer UK’s Purple Lights For Hope, which aims to light up as many public landmarks as possible to raise awareness of the disease.
“Pancreatic cancer is the fifth largest cause of cancer deaths in the UK, with one person dying from the disease every hour.
“Indeed, 8,800 people are diagnosed with, and around 8,700 die from, pancreatic cancer each year.
“The disease has the worst five-year survival rate of the 21 most common cancers – at a figure of less than five per cent which has remained virtually unchanged over the last 40 years.
“I am therefore urging the government to do all it can to bring about long-overdue improvements to pancreatic cancer awareness, diagnosis, treatment, care and research.”