On World Cancer Day 2015, Ulster Unionist Health spokesperson, Jo-Anne Dobson MLA has said that in the face of rising cancer diagnoses in Northern Ireland, awareness and education will be key in the fight against the disease.
Figures revealed in a Written Answer to the Ulster Unionist Party show that cancer diagnoses have increased by over 30% between 2003-2012.
The Upper Bann MLA said:
“Cancer leaves few families untouched and my own is no exception as we lost my beloved grandmother at forty one years of age to cancer.
“Figures from the Northern Ireland Cancer Registry show that, barring 2010, the number of people being diagnosed with cancer in Northern Ireland have risen from 9,286 in 2003 to 12,417 in 2012.
“To defeat it we cannot stand still. I have been working tirelessly alongside local charities and families to fight for improved cancer services in Northern Ireland and have been raising the issue at Stormont in my role as a member of the Health Committee.
“Recently I was honoured to attend the launch of an inspirational exhibition at the European Parliament. It’s called ‘I am not the Cancer’ and tells the poignant, real-life stories of women living with advanced stage breast cancer. Awareness and education are crucial to early identification and treatment and I pay tribute to all those who have become advocates for increasing public awareness around cancer.
The figures from the Northern Ireland Cancer Registry are available HERE