SHONA HAS PUT HER NAME to the Breast Cancer Research Pledge to show her support for breast cancer research in the UK.

This pledge promises that as an MP, Shona will support the research that saves and improves the lives of people with breast cancer as well as supporting charity-funded-medical research by maintaining the Charity Research Support Fund.

Breast cancer is still the most common cancer in the UK and 46,000 people are diagnosed with it every year. Breast cancer research has made considerable progress over the past twenty years and research charity Breat cancer Campaign has:

• Found eight genes that are involved in breast cancer and increased our knowledge of development greatly;
• Created the first specialist training course for breast surgeons so that there has been an increase of 42% of breast surgeons in the NHS;
• Funded a clinical trial studying a new form of radiotherapy for breast cancer called Intensity Modulated Radiotherapy;
• Found ways to make treatments more individualised so that patients receive care that is best suited to them.

All of this comes alongside the Government's ongoing cancer guarantee. Currently, all patients who are suspected by their GP to have cancer are guaranteed to see a cancer specialist within 2 weeks and receive treatment within 18 weeks. The Government want to take this even further and ensure that you have a right to a diagnostic cancer test and results within one week.

On the issue, Shona said:

"As a Government we have a very good record on cancer treatment. But more still needs to be done to make sure that every patient gets the treatment they need through the NHS. We have come a long way over the past twenty years but there is still a long way to go. This is why pledges such as the Breast Cancer Research Pledge are so important and have my full support."

For more information on the pledge visit:

www.breastcancercampaign.org

27 January 2010