Talking cancer
This week, we will raise awareness of one of the UK’s biggest killers, demystify the process of diagnosing cancer and share the latest on London’s newest and most advanced Cancer Centre.
About this week
Why are we doing it?
Most of us either have or know someone who has been affected by cancer. With over 300,000 cases in the UK per year, and 160,000 deaths, cancer is one of the biggest health problems facing the NHS.
Statistics released this year show the UK lagging behind the rest of Europe on cancer survival rates, despite considerable improvements in treatment over the last 40 years.
Cancer was also identified as a key target in the NHS Five Year Forward View, published in October 2014, with an emphasis in improving diagnostics to help better patient outcomes.
With an aging population and the number of incidences of cancer expected to rise, it is a problem that the NHS and other health providers cannot afford to shy away from.
As a major UK pathology provider, with strong ties with the NHS, we want to play our part in the battle against cancer with better and more innovative diagnostics.
What are we doing this week?
Over the course of the week we will be tweeting cancer facts and statistics from our Twitter account @ViapathUK and posting information about our leading cancer diagnostic services at Guy’s and St. Thomas Hospitals and King’s College Hospital.
Demystifying pathology
We are committed to transforming pathology services in the UK, and are keen to give the public and indeed other healthcare professionals a deeper understanding of pathology and its role in healthcare.
To help, we will share a photographic lifecycle of a random cancer sample in Special Haematology; from the moment it enters the lab, to testing and the production of an integrated report.
Get your wig on!
We will also be taking part in CLIC Sargent’s Wig Wednesday on 20 May, using our heads to raise money for children and young people with cancer. A range of events will be taking place, from a bake sale in our corporate office to a wig competition - with prizes for the best wig, at King’s College Hospital.
Building for the future
Finally, we will discuss the exciting works underway to build the new cancer centre at Guy’s Hospital, which will become a hub for integrated cancer care across London and the South East.
With plenty of useful, interesting and insightful information to digest, you can keep up to date by following us on social media, where we will link to news on our website and more.
Some cancer facts and figures
- The four most common cancers; breast, lung, prostate and bowel, make up over 50% of cases in the UK
- Cancer incidence rates in Great Britain have risen by 23% in males and by 43% in females since the mid-1970s
- FOLLOW US on Twitter for more facts, figures and links to interesting news throughout next week
