Cancer crisis: We can save 10,000 lives

MORE than 10,000 lives could be saved in Scotland in less than two decades if politicians vow to prioritise the fight against cancer, campaigners will tell MSPs today.

- By Richard Elias

Strategy: Cancer Research's Mitchell

Hundreds of people are expected to meet outside Holyrood in a coordinated call for improved treatments and reduced waiting times for sufferers.

Writing exclusively in the Scottish Daily Express, a leading charity outlined its hopes and wishes to tackle all forms of the disease.

Michelle Mitchell, chief executive of Cancer Research UK, explained: “Today, we launch a bold new manifesto for Scotland with a clear message to politicians ahead of next year’s election: ‘Commit to reducing the cancer death rate in Scotland by 15% by 2040 and save around 10,100 lives’

“Cancer is the defining health issue of our time.

“In Scotland, it is the leading cause of death, touching every family, community and workplace.The scale of the crisis is undeniable — and without urgent action, more lives will be lost.

“Years of underfunding, together with the impact of Covid, have left the NHS struggling. The result is missed diagnoses, delayed treatments and lives lost too soon.