Theresa Villiers, MP for Chipping Barnet, has welcomed the news that cancer survival rates in Barnet are amongst the highest in the UK. A recently published report by Macmillan Cancer Support concluded that the borough was one of the top four areas for survival rates. It concluded that patients with cancer in Barnet have a 72% chance of living for at least a year after diagnosis, better than the national average, and beaten only by three other places in the country.
Theresa said, "I warmly welcome these figures showing that my constituents are getting the best chance to survive cancer. In June I visited a pop-up shop in the Spires shopping centre in High Barnet which was funded by Barnet Council to give people more information on how to reduce their chances of getting cancer and give them a better chance of surviving the disease if they do get it."
"There is so much that can be done to guard against cancer through healthier eating, taking exercise, cutting down on alcohol and giving up smoking. Seeking treatment early can also dramatically improve your chances of recovering from cancer. The pop-up shop and other public health programmes overseen by the council and its lead member for health, Cllr Helena Hart, are taking this important message to my constituents."
"These encouraging figures on cancer survival show that the cancer awareness programmes supported by the Council and our local Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) are making a difference. I would like to congratulate them and our local GPs and other NHS professionals who are ensuring my constituents are given the best possible chance of beating cancer."
Ms Villiers has been a long time supporter of local charity, Cherry Lodge Cancer Care. On Saturday she was present when Cherry Lodge received a cheque for £31,000 raised at this year's Summer Soulstice Festival. The festival has been taking place in Barnet for eight years in aid of the charity. It is run by the friends of family of Andy Weekes, who grew up in Barnet and lost his life to cancer in 2006.