Bath MP Don Foster and his Liberal Democrat successor, Steve Bradley, are using their own experiences to do their bit to tackle the taboo around discussing cancer.
Cancer Talk Week (26 – 30th January) is Macmillan Cancer Support’s annual awareness week, and this year the charity is encouraging people to think ahead to the General Election.
It is urging voters to talk to their political candidates and ensure they all to commit to making life better for people affected by cancer if elected in May.
Each year more than 900 people in Bath are diagnosed with cancer.
One in four of them reports receiving little support from family or friends during their treatment or recovery, while many others report feelings of isolation and loneliness.
Both Liberal Democrat Don Foster MP and Steve Bradley, who is hoping to succeed Don when he retires in May, have personal experiences of cancer and are lending their support to the charity this year.
Steve Bradley said: “While attitudes to cancer and ‘the C word’ are slowly changing, it can still be hard for many people to have open conversations and discuss it fully.
“This can form a barrier to communication with family and friends, which only makes the suffering worse. Cancer Talk Week aims to draw attention to this and to encourage people to start the conversations they may be struggling to have.
“It’s a small but vitally important step that I am keen to lend my wholehearted support to. My sister Aileen has been suffering with leukaemia for almost a year now, and it has had a major impact upon our whole family.
“It helps Aileen to talk openly about her treatment and prognosis, and it helps us too. I believe the greatest fear we face in cancer is in not talking about it with those we love.”
Anyone can get involved in Cancer Talk Week by offering practical support to someone with cancer, sharing their own experiences, or taking part in a fundraising event.
To find out more about Macmillan Cancer Support and Cancer Talk Week, visit www.macmillan.org.uk or for support, information or a chat, call 0808 808 00 00 (Monday to Friday, 9am – 8pm).
