Commenting on the findings of a report from the Welsh Cancer Intelligence and Surveillance Unit, which concludes that more people are being diagnosed with cancer and that survival rates are rising, Darren Millar AM, Shadow Minister for Health and Social Services, said:
“Whilst it is welcome that with improved screenings and new treatments, survival rates are rising, more needs to be done to tackle the increased prevalence of cancer.
“Through education and a joined up public health strategy, we need to do more to tackle the known causes of cancer such as smoking, alcoholism, obesity and a lack of exercise.
“By making it easier for people to adopt healthier lifestyles we can begin to tackle recent rises in the number of cancer diagnoses and improve the health of the nation.
“Ministers now need to play their part in improving the chances of cancer patients by eliminating the Welsh postcode lottery in the availability of cancer medicines.
“The establishment of a Cancer Drugs Fund would ensure that Welsh cancer patients have access to life-extending treatments already available to patients in England.”
