Carol Vorderman supports UK Patient Survey
1 February 2008
The James Whale Fund for Kidney Cancer is undertaking the first ever patient survey into kidney cancer in the UK and we need your help to reach people who have been touched by kidney cancer.
Television presenter and broadcaster, Carol Vorderman has come out in support of this survey adding her voice so as to help patients and carers and we ask that you support the Fund in putting a ‘call to action’ out to as wider cross section of the British public as possible. We need to enlist people who are newly diagnosed, currently receiving treatment, those who care for sufferers, and those who have family members or friends who are sufferers. In short: anyone whose lives have been affected in any way by kidney cancer.
Carol Vorderman says: “My mother had a malignant tumour removed from her kidney last year. It was still at Stage One but we were the lucky ones. She had to have a scan for a hernia and the consultant spotted the tumour even though it was relatively small and not the specific area of medical concern at the time. For his insight, and the consequent care she received my brother, my sister and I remain eternally grateful. Sadly, many others have not been as lucky as my Mum.
"That's why I'm supporting the James Whale Fund for Kidney Cancer and the launch of their comprehensive survey for kidney cancer – the first ever undertaken in the UK“.
The statistics are astounding. Over 6,000 new cases of kidney cancer are found in the UK every year. This number is on the increase. Tragically more people are killed by kidney cancer every month than on the roads of Britain. Astonishingly we all know the amounts of money and research put into safety on our roads and yet safety for your kidneys is relegated to minor role comparatively".
As a consequence people need to know what to watch out for. They need to know the symptoms, pre- and post-diagnosis, so that they may be as fortunate as my Mum and catch it in the early stages. They also need to be made aware of how to look after themselves to reduce the chances of contracting the disease in the first place.
“The survey is intended to add significantly to our knowledge base. There may be social, nutritional or genetic links that have not yet been discovered yet, simply because of a lack of epidemiological data. I hope this survey can add greatly to that understanding but it can only work if those who have suffered from the disease take part. I'm pleading therefore to those who have the disease, people who care for people with the disease or people who have family members or friends who have the disease to go to the web site www.jameswhalefund.org and share with us 20 minutes of your time. It may seem like a small thing to do but it really could help save many lives, even those of your own family.
Please, join the James Whale Fund for Kidney Cancer patient survey without delay".
James Whale, Chairman of the Fund and someone who had a kidney removed through cancer added; “Whilst most patients still undergo surgery to remove the kidney approximately 30% of patients presently with the disease cannot be cured by surgery and alternative treatment approaches need to be found.
The only way we can find these alternative treatments is to fund research, and that is one of the James Whale Fund for Kidney Cancer’s aims. The other is raising awareness for early detection and completing, this, the UK’s first national patient survey.
The results of this survey will provide much needed information about how kidney cancer patients discover they have disease – and the action they take as a result.
Early diagnosis of kidney cancer can greatly improve the chance of a successful outcome. By conducting this research amongst kidney cancer patients and their carers, we will better understand the process of diagnosis and expect the findings of the survey to reveal ways in which diagnosis rates can be improved.”Should you wish to take part in this survey register here.Thank you for your support of this very important survey which will affect thousands of people across the UK.
