Scotland Against Cancer 2006
More than 150 delegates attended the fifth annual Scotland Against Cancer conference, held at the Thistle Hotel, Glasgow on Friday 22 September 2006.
Scotland Against Cancer brings together patients, scientists, politicians, civil servants and health professionals to help to shape the cancer agenda in Scotland.
Addressing the conference, Andy Kerr MSP, Minister for Health and Community Care, stated that the Cancer in Scotland strategy has been instrumental in improving cancer care in Scotland. He highlighted the smoking ban as a key contribution to public health in Scotland, and welcomed Cancer Research UK’s “Smokefree and proud” advertising campaign for celebrating the ban and its implementation.
Keynote speaker, Sir David Carter, Chairman of The Health Foundation and a Trustee of Cancer Research UK, considered the challenges of cancer in 2020 and the need to plan for the future. He discussed the inequalities in cancer incidence and mortality in Scotland, and highlighted the importance of prevention and public health initiatives to tackling cancer incidence rates. He commended the Cancer in Scotland strategy, but said that it needs to be revised and updated.
An expert panel then led a discussion on new cancer treatments; patient choice and power; health service capacity and the patient journey.
Delegates took part in open discussion forums and made several recommendations for Scottish health policy. These are summarised in the conference report, and we hope the conference recommendations will be taken forward by the Cross Party Group in the next Parliamentary session.
Scotland Against Cancer is organised by Cancer Research UK Scotland with the endorsement of the Scottish Parliament's Cross Party Group on Cancer.
Full programme details for the 2007 Scotland Against Cancer Conference will be available shortly.
