Despite the turbulence of recent politics, Theresa Villiers MP last week took time to meet campaigners and nurses from Cancer Research UK to find out more about how cancer can be prevented. Cancer Research UK runs a project called the Cancer Awareness Roadshow, which aims to combat cancer across the UK through educating people about the disease and how to prevent it. At the roadshow in Westminster, MPs from around the country, including Ms Villiers, discussed the causes of different types of cancer, and pledged to help spread the message about how to lower cancer risk.
Cancer Research UK estimates that 4 out of 10 cancer cases are caused by environment factors and could be prevented. The biggest preventable cause of cancer is smoking, followed by obesity, which is linked to 18,100 cancer cases per year. Cancer Research UK figures indicate that over half of adults and 33% of children in the borough of Barnet are overweight or clinically obese, and roughly 15% smoke. The borough has around 1,500 cancer cases per year.
Theresa Villiers said: "There are over 600 deaths in the Barnet area from cancer each year. Although some cancers are unpreventable, others are caused by external factors. For example, being overweight or smoking makes people more likely to get cancer. I learned today from Cancer Research UK that 40% of cancer cases could be delayed or prevented by making basic lifestyle changes."
“More than a quarter of cancer deaths in the UK are caused by smoking, which is a tragic waste. Most people nowadays understand that smoking carries the risk of cancer, but far fewer appreciate that obesity also causes cancer. There are so many proven ways to reduce the risk of cancer: eating healthily, not smoking, cutting back on alcohol consumption, and spreading the word about this could save so many lives. That is why I welcome and support the campaign being run by Cancer Awareness UK.”