Comment From: James Whale
1 February 2008
Chairman, The James Whale Fund for Kidney Cancer
Hello and if you are a new visitor to our website, welcome. If you are a regular visitor, thanks for your support.
January 2008 saw the James Whale Fund for Kidney Cancer officially launch the first ever kidney cancer patient survey across the United Kingdom. The Fund is looking to pull together information from as diverse area as possible; from victims, carers or family and friends who have experienced the disease from near or far.
We need to people to take part that are newly diagnosed, currently receiving treatment, those who care for sufferers, and those who have family members or friends who are sufferers. Go here to register to complete the patient questionnaire on-line. It’s free and it will help save lives in the long run. We appreciate you input and support.
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.
In late 2007 we added our voice to the throng of welcomes to the publication of the Cancer Reform Strategy (CRS). The Fund is about building in-depth awareness and saving even more lives, but also about improving the quality of the lives saved. And for those lives that cannot be save, offer a dignified and pain free death.
To compound the direction in which the fund is working to, the Prime Minister sat up and took notice of what we have been saying for the last year. I am referring to his long awaited announcement regarding NHS reforms that includes check-up’s for sufferers of kidney disease.
But Mr Brown is treating kidney cancer patients like pawns in his leadership popularity war. These are not reforms that he should be handing out as treats to win votes! It is everyone's right to feel they are receiving the best service they can from the NHS. What the Prime Minister is offering here is simply what we should have.
My worry is that with the inconsistent relationships between PCTs across the UK all that will happen is GPs will find more sufferers of kidney cancer and not be able to give them the drugs they need to either save or lengthen their lives due to the inconsistency in local PCT’s funding. We are delighted the Prime Minister is setting out these plans, along with his plan to stamp out obesity (one of the major contributors to kidney cancer), but until he reveals the finer details I reserve judgement. Also the details of when these “deeper and wider” NHS reforms are to be introduced is rather vague, Mr. Brown has only said “soon.” Well PM, soon is not soon enough. NOW is!
2008 must be the year that marks Kidney Cancer as the awful disease it is and sees the PCTs, NICE and GPs working to the common goal of reducing the harm caused by the disease. This can only be achieved through increasing knowledge and awareness, providing patient information and by supporting research into the causes, prevention and treatment.
We also want to ensure that the CRS is not just words that live on pages; we intend to ensure they are honoured and built upon. It is vital that the Government, NHS and NICE keep moving forward and implement the Strategy to make a real difference to the lives of all cancer sufferers over the next five years.
Good health to you all.
