Local MP Becomes Bowel Cancer Champion

Justin Tomlinson MP has pledged to become a Bowel Cancer Champion to lead the change in Parliament for people affected by the disease.

Someone is diagnosed with bowel cancer every 15 minutes, making it the UK’s fourth most common cancer. It’s also the second biggest cancer killer, nearly 16,000 people die from the disease every year. Yet bowel cancer is treatable and curable especially if diagnosed early. However, only 15% are diagnosed at the earliest stage of the disease when the chance of survival is highest.

As a Bowel Cancer Champion, Justin will work with Bowel Cancer UK - the UK’s leading bowel cancer research charity - to increase early diagnosis and improve access to best treatment and care both in Swindon and nationally. By working together with people affected by the disease and the clinical and research community, as well as MPs, the charity’s ambition is that by 2025, survival rates can be transformed from 60% of people surviving bowel cancer to 75%.

He has already tabled a number of questions to Ministers on improving access to screening and treatment.

Justin Tomlinson MP said: “It simply isn’t acceptable that so many people die from bowel cancer each year. That’s why I’m proud to be working with Bowel Cancer UK and helping them make real change happen through my role as a Bowel Cancer Champion. I look forward to using my position in Parliament to call for changes which can improve outcomes for patients with bowel cancer in Swindon. Together we can stop bowel cancer.”

Asha Kaur, Head of Policy & Campaigns at Bowel Cancer UK, says: “I’m delighted that Justin Tomlinson has pledged to become a Bowel Cancer Champion. Justin will serve as a valuable ally in helping us to put bowel cancer firmly on the political agenda and campaigning for crucial improvements to services for bowel cancer patients both nationally and in Swindon.”