February 2025 was a month marked by World Cancer Day, which sparked a significant increase in discussions around cancer awareness and treatment in the UK Parliament. This spike in cancer-related mentions, alongside important debates about the National Cancer Plan and the accessibility of radiotherapy, underscore the importance of continued research, early detection, and comprehensive care for cancer patients.
World Cancer Day: A Focus on Cancer Awareness
World Cancer Day is a major health awareness event that takes place each February. This year, 19 mentions of World Cancer Day were recorded during parliamentary proceedings. There were three significant items of activity that sparked this attention:
- National Cancer Plan Debate[1]
- This debate, led by Andrew Gwynne MP, took place on 4 February and focused on shaping the future direction of cancer treatment and research in the UK. As part of the conversation, Gwynne put forward a Call for Evidence aimed at shaping the National Cancer Plan.
- World Cancer Day and Leukaemia UK’s ‘Take Action, Save Lives’ report[2]
- Clive Jones MP put forward an Early Day Motion (EDM) on 3 February for World Cancer Day and welcomed the launch of Leukaemia UK’s report, ‘Take Action, Save Lives’. The report highlights the need for a National Cancer Strategy that commits to save and improve the lives of those affected by leukaemia.
- Accessibility of Radiotherapy Debate[3]
- Tim Farron MP introduced a debate on World Cancer Day regarding accessibility to radiotherapy, stressing the importance of ensuring equal access to life-saving treatments across the country.
These activities in Parliament on World Cancer Day greatly enhanced the dialogue surrounding the seven leading cancers.[4] All seven are included in our Disease Profile Tracker and all saw a surge in discussion due to the World Cancer Day awareness campaign. This is yet another example of how awareness campaigns can drive parliamentary discussion on particular diseases.
Key Cancer Mentions in February 2025
- Lung Cancer: Mentions of lung cancer increased significantly, more than doubling compared to the previous month (January 2025).
- Colon, Rectum, and Anus Cancer: These cancers saw a 25 per cent increase in mentions.
- Breast Cancer: Breast cancer mentions nearly tripled in February, compared to mentions in January 2025, , indicating a significant increase in focus.
- Leukaemia: Mentions of Leukaemia surged seven-fold in February 2025 compared to January 2025. Key reasons for this include an EDM tabled by Clive Jones MP, highlighting Leukaemia UK’s new report, ‘Take Action, Save Lives’.
- Prostate Cancer: Mentions of prostate cancer rose by 52 per cent in February compared to January, reflecting ongoing efforts to address men’s health and the need for better diagnosis and treatment.
- Pancreatic Cancer: Mentions of pancreatic cancer increased by 33 per cent compared to the previous month.
- Oesophageal Cancer: Oesophageal cancer saw its mentions double compared to the previous month, signalling heightened awareness of a cancer that is often overlooked by parliamentarians.
Other Notable Disease Mentions
While cancer dominated parliamentary activity in February, there were notable increases in mentions of other diseases:
- Dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease: Mentions of these conditions nearly tripled in February compared to the previous month. This rise was largely due to a series of written questions that focused on improving the diagnosis and treatment of dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease.
- Liver Disease: There was also a notable increase in mentions related to liver disease, driven by written questions about health service provisions for liver disease and research funding. The focus on liver disease is becoming more urgent as rates of liver-related illnesses continue to rise.[5]
[1] Hansard, ‘National Cancer Plan’, 4 February 2025, Link
[2] Hansard, ‘World Cancer Day and Leukaemia UK’s Take Action, Save Lives report’, 3 February 2025, Link
[3] Hansard, ‘Accessibility of Radiotherapy Debate’, 4 February 2025, Link
[4] By cause of mortality as ranked by the Office for National Statistics’ monthly mortality analysis for England and Wales, The Office for National Statistics, ‘Monthly mortality analysis, England and Wales: December 2022’, link
[5] British Liver Trust, ‘Liver disease in numbers – key facts and statistics’, Link
