Next government must prioritise prevention to tackle cancer crisis

We’ve written to the editors of all the national newspapers ahead of the UK General Election next week calling on the next government to prioritise cancer prevention.

27 June 2024

Dear editors,

Around 1 in 2 people will face cancer in their lifetime, but approximately 40% of cancers are preventable. There is also a huge economic cost to cancer. In 2023, 184,000 potentially preventable cancer cases were diagnosed in the UK, costing an estimated £113 billion – that’s 5% of annual GDP1.

The next government cannot afford to ignore this growing health and economic crisis. That’s why we’re proposing 5 priority areas that the government must address:

  1. Prioritise cancer prevention across government.
  2. Improve the nation’s diet.
  3. Get everyone moving more.
  4. Reduce the nation’s alcohol consumption.
  5. Increase support and resources for patients, health professionals, and research.

We also urge that the next government ensures that advertising restrictions for less healthy products are urgently prioritised, with legislation needing to be implemented before the end of September 2024.

Obesity and overweight are set to overtake smoking as the biggest risk factor for cancer. A new government must address key risk factors such as poor diet, obesity, low physical activity and alcohol consumption to reduce the risk of developing cancer, as well as take forward proposals in the Tobacco and Vaping Bill.

People do not make decisions about their diet and exercise in a vacuum. Many people live in circumstances that mean they are unable to make the healthiest choices.

Evidence-based policies can promote healthy diets, breastfeeding, physical activity, and limit alcohol intake to reduce preventable cancer and other diseases. They can also support broader health, economic and societal goals.

A new government must protect our health and economy through evidence-based policies that must be guarded from undue interference. Last week WHO Europe published a shocking report outlining the ways in which industries have blocked governments from action on non-communicable disease risk factors, damaging health in the name of profit.

The government must take action now for the sake of future generations.

Yours sincerely,

Rachael Gormley, Chief Executive Officer

> On the blog: Supporting the next UK government to address cancer risk for all

> What the government needs to do in the first 100 days

References

1Cost of preventable cancers in the UK to total £1.88 TN from 2023 to 2040. Frontier Economics. Accessed June 2024

About World Cancer Research Fund

World Cancer Research Fund examines how diet, nutrition, body weight and physical activity affect your risk of developing and surviving cancer. As part of an international network of charities, we have been funding life-saving research, influencing global public health policy, and educating the public since 1982.

Around 40% of cancer cases could be prevented through factors including eating a healthy diet, keeping physically active, maintaining a healthy weight, not smoking and being safe in the sun.

While society continues searching for a cure, our prevention and survival work is helping people live longer, happier, healthier lives – free from the devastating effects of cancer. Find us on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube & LinkedIn.

Preventing Cancer. Saving Lives.