Sharon hosted Breakthrough Breast Cancer's annual reception in
the Commons today. Sharon is the Secretary of the All Party
Parliamentary Breast Cancer Group to which Breakthrough provide the
secretariat. The event was attended by Secretary of State for
Health Alan Johnson who gave his full backing to what he jokingly
called 'the BBC'. It has been a big year for Breakthrough who
worked hard to lobby for extended screening the Cancer Reform
Strategy which was launched last December. Sharon's remarks at the
reception are copied below:
Good Afternoon
and Welcome to Breakthrough Breast Cancers Summer Reception. I’m
Sharon Hodgson MP, I work as Secretary to the All Party Group on
Breast Cancer for which Breakthrough provide the
Secretariat.
·I’m delighted to have the
honour of getting proceedings underway and would like to extend a
very warm welcome to all guests to this reception hosted by the All
Party Parliamentary Group on Breast Cancer, NHS Breast Screening
Programme and Breakthrough Breast Cancer Summer Reception.
I’m also delighted to
be joined by the other Officers of the Group together with many
members and supporters.
Ever since I was
elected in 2005 I’ve been working with Breakthrough to keep breast
cancer high on the political agenda and I know that everyone here
today will share my feeling that is vital we continue to do so.
Breast Cancer treatment is a trailblazer for the NHS and continues
to set benchmarks which other tumour specific cancers can use to
improve their own outcomes.
Despite this it
is clear that our work is not done. Breast cancer is still the most
common cancer in the UK. Every year 44,000 women and 300 men are
diagnosed with the disease and although more and more women are
surviving a diagnosis 1,000 women are still dying from breast
cancer each month. So – as a well known former Prime Minister said
– ‘A lot done, a lot still to do’
That why the
work done by the All Party group is so important is raising
awareness of issues and concerns here in Parliament. It provides a
forum for discussion and a platform for action.
I know I speak
on behalf of the whole group when I say I’m delighted to see
representatives from other charities here today and I want to
underline the importance of continuing to work together in order to
achieve the best possible results.
There can be no
better time to push forward progress on screening than in the
20th anniversary year of the NHS screening program. It’s
nine years since the All Party Group and Breakthrough got together
to call jointly for an extension of the upper age limit on the
screening program.
Finally, can I
thank both Astra Zeneca and Roche for their generous sponsorship of
today’s event.
·It gives me great pleasure
to introduce Jeremy Hughes Chief Executive of Breakthrough
Breast Cancer, and Julieta Patnick, Director of NHS Cancer
Screening Programmes.
After we have
heard from them, Annette Brooke MP, my fellow All Party Group
Officer, will introduce this year’s Breakthrough Patsy Calton
Award.
You will then
have the opportunity to mingle, take advantage of the photo
opportunity and enjoy the hospitality before the Secretary of State
arrives at around 5.45pm.So, with no further ado, over to
Jeremy.
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