Skipton MP visits Yorkshire Cancer Research shop

Skipton and Ripon MP Julian Smith visited Yorkshire Cancer Research’s Skipton shop to meet bowel cancer researchers and patients who have benefited from funding from the charity.

Julian was also introduced to the manager and volunteers of the newly opened shop, which will help raise vital funds for cancer research in the region.

While at the shop, Julian met Professor Phil Quirke, who leads the charity’s Bowel Cancer Improvement Programme.

Bowel cancer is the fourth most common cancer in Yorkshire, with 3,500 people diagnosed in the region in 2019.

The Bowel Cancer Improvement Programme, funded by Yorkshire Cancer Research, aims to bring a ‘gold-standard’ of bowel cancer treatment to every person in Yorkshire, no matter where they are treated, by analysing areas of improvement in hospitals and introducing new advances in treatment.

The MP was also introduced to Kate Bartholomew, who was diagnosed with bowel cancer in 2017 and now offers a patient perspective on bowel cancer research.

Kate said: “In March 2017, I had emergency surgery following my bowel cancer diagnosis, and received chemotherapy to ‘mop up’ any remaining cancer cells. Unfortunately, I was later diagnosed with breast cancer and had a further surgery, as well as chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

“My bowel cancer has since returned, and I’ve turned my attention to helping others with a similar diagnosis. I volunteer as a patient representative on the Bowel Cancer Improvement Programme. I look at written materials that are going to be given to the public and help make sure that they are easy to understand and that the text feels more personal and less academic.

“My feeling is that whatever I can give back, in the way of knowledge or skills or experience, that’s what I want to do.”

The visit also included the opportunity to learn more about how research funded by the charity is benefitting people in rural areas of Yorkshire, such as those in Julian’s constituency of Skipton and Ripon.

Findings have recently been published from the RURALLY trial, funded by Yorkshire Cancer Research, which investigated why people living in rural areas in North Yorkshire are less likely to survive bowel cancer than those living in urban towns and cities.

The study showed that poor relationships with their GPs and concerns about losing time from work are key reasons that individuals in rural areas do not seek help for bowel cancer signs and symptoms. These results will help improve understanding of how the charity can best serve remote communities across Yorkshire.

Julian added: “It was great to discuss the important work of the charity and how funds raised from the shop in Skipton will help support cutting edge research.”