Publication - Publications: Cancer Research UK

Beating cancer
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Annual Review
2010/11
People with cancer and their families
are at the heart of everything we do.
Welcome to our review of the year
And in April 2011 it became illegal for
under-18s to use sunbeds. Both laws
will protect young people from these
preventable causes of cancer.
We have saved millions of lives with
our groundbreaking work preventing,
diagnosing and treating cancer.
Our research is vital if we are
to save more lives in the future.
It has been a year of exciting
advances and challenges, one of
political change and economic
uncertainty.
Contents
02 About us
04 05
07
10
12
Understanding cancer
Introducing The Francis Crick Institute
Understanding why cancer spreads
and why it can come back
Revolutionising the way we diagnose
and treat cancer
Urine protein test could indicate
prostate cancer
13 14 16 16
Preventing cancer
Helping young people to be SunSmart
Keeping tobacco Out of Sight,
Out of Mind
Helping to improve the nation’s health
17
Detecting and diagnosing
cancer earlier
18 Earlier diagnosis is key to boosting
cancer survival
19 Targeting GPs to help improve
early diagnosis
20 Saving lives through better screening
24 Concerns about your health?
There’s an app for that…
25
26
28
30
31
33
34
Developing better treatments
Helping more children beat leukaemia
Fighting pancreatic cancer
Testing treatments that save lives
Clinical trials: your questions
Tailoring treatment, transforming
cancer care
Personalising cervical cancer treatment
35 36
38
40
41
Your support saves lives
Race for Life: working towards our best year yet
How your unwanted items help beat cancer
On track for a healthier workplace
Get involved today
42
44 46 How your donations help beat cancer
Funding research across the UK
Thank you
We would like to say thank you to all those who
feature within this Annual Review.
Alim – a testicular cancer survivor – and his
daughter Keira feature on our cover. Read about
his story on page 47.
Yet, despite a backdrop of government
spending cuts and a general fall in
charitable giving, we’ve achieved many
great things.
Thanks to our campaigning, the UK
government has added a bowel cancer
test, that we helped to develop, to the
national screening programme. Once
rolled out, ‘flexi sig’ could save thousands
of lives every year.
Our scientists have continued to discover
and develop new treatments. Men with
advanced prostate cancer should soon
be able to benefit from abiraterone – a
drug which would not exist without the
early discovery and development work
carried out by our scientists in London.
We lobbied to put tobacco out of sight
in shops – from April 2012, tobacco
displays will be banned in large stores,
and in smaller shops from 2015.
0 1
We are entirely funded by the public.
Our understanding of cancer is increasing
faster than ever before, as is our ability
to prevent, diagnose and treat the
disease. We’re getting closer to seeing
personalised treatment becoming part
of routine care – something that could
save thousands more lives.
However, we need to make sure nothing
slows down the tremendous progress
we’re making. Whilst we make the best
use of every pound we raise, each year
we receive a growing number of
outstanding research proposals that we
cannot afford to fund. To achieve our
ambitious goals, we need to raise more
money. We receive no government
funding for our research.
Thank you for the outstanding
commitment you have shown to beating
cancer in 2010/11. We hope you will
continue to do so, now and in the future,
as we need your support more than ever.
Michael Pragnell, Chairman, 27 June 2011
Harpal S Kumar, Chief Executive, 27 June 2011
About us
Every two minutes in the UK
someone’s life is devastated by
a cancer diagnosis. Our aim is to
reduce the number of people who
get cancer and make sure more
survive the disease.
Research is the key to saving lives,
and we focus on areas where
we can make the most impact.
We work to:
Understand cancer
Our scientists lead the world in
discovering how cancer develops and
spreads, and ways we can combat this.
Prevent cancer
We support research into preventing
cancer and offer expert, evidence-based
advice to health professionals and the
public about how to reduce the risk
of the disease.
Detect and diagnose
cancer earlier
We help people recognise cancer
symptoms and encourage them to go
to their GP. We research and promote
screening and we campaign for people
to be diagnosed as soon as possible.
Develop better treatments
We ensure discoveries made in the
lab are developed into life-saving
treatments as soon as possible, and
that the best treatments are available
for all cancer patients across the UK.
02
Because we receive no government
funding for our research, our vital work is
only possible because of our supporters’
generosity and the dedication of our
doctors and scientists. Thanks to them,
more people are diagnosed earlier,
treated more effectively and survive
for longer.
The chance of surviving cancer has
doubled in the last 40 years and our
work has been at the heart of that
progress. We continue to see great
improvements in long-term survival for
many cancers. Today, survival rates for
leukaemia have quadrupled, and people
with breast, bowel and ovarian cancers
and non-Hodgkin lymphoma are twice
as likely to survive for at least 10 years
as those diagnosed in the early 1970s.
In this Annual Review, we share some
success stories from each area of our
work. Our achievements are amazing
– but there is so much more to do to
achieve our vision of beating cancer.
When I was 11, I was diagnosed with
non-Hodgkin lymphoma. I was scared, but
mum told me I’d get better. After months of
treatment, I did. Now, 13 years later, I run,
cycle and have taken part in two night-time
walking marathons, Shine, to raise money
for Cancer Research UK. We need everyone
to continue supporting their work to help
more children and adults survive cancer.
Find out more at
www.cancerresearchuk.org
Amy Hillier, 24, from Cardiff
Non-Hodgkin lymphoma survivor
The chance of surviving
cancer has doubled
in the last 40 years.
There are over 200 different types of cancer. We are the only UK charity dedicated
to beating them all.
03
Fact or achievement about Cancer Research UK corro que nullab iscim qui
Understanding cancer
Introducing The Francis Crick Institute
To beat cancer we need to
understand everything we possibly
can about this complex disease.
Over the last century we have made
many hundreds of fundamental discoveries
that have given us a greater understanding
of cancer. The impact of this research is
being felt by patients worldwide today.
Cancer research is now entering a
new era of opportunity. Every day our
scientists are discovering more about
what causes cancer to grow and spread.
This new knowledge has the power
to dramatically influence how we
prevent, diagnose and treat the disease
in the future.
04
Fact or achievement about Cancer Research UK corro que nullab iscim qui
Q
Whose initiative is this?
The Francis Crick Institute has been
founded by four of the world’s leading
medical research organisations: Cancer
Research UK, the Medical Research
Council, the Wellcome Trust and
University College London.
Q
What’s Cancer Research UK’s
involvement?
Cancer Research UK has committed
£160 million towards the creation of
the institute. It will house scientists
from their London Research Institute
alongside those from other partners
– cancer will be a priority.
Q
What progress has been made
in 2010/11?
Planning permission has been granted
and The Francis Crick Institute has
published its scientific vision. In addition,
the UK government has pledged
£315 million of funding through the
Medical Research Council to set up
the institute.
We’re helping to create a new
world-class research institute in the
UK. Its Chief Executive, Sir Paul
Nurse, explains what The Francis
Crick Institute is all about.
Q
You have called The Francis Crick
Institute the most significant
development in British biomedical
science for a generation.
Does it deserve this accolade?
I think it does. Our purpose for the
institute is: ‘understanding life for the
benefit of humanity’. It will bring together
the best scientists in the world working
in many fields of research and establish
close links with clinicians, healthcare
organisations and industry.
The institute will have the vision and
expertise to tackle some of the most
challenging scientific questions
underpinning human health, helping us
to understand and beat diseases that
affect everyone, such as cancer, heart
disease and stroke. We believe it will
become one of the leading biomedical
research institutes in the world.
05
The Francis Crick Institute will
arguably be the most important
medical research institute in the
world. Its biggest impact will be on
those cancer patients in the future
who will be diagnosed, treated and
cured using breakthroughs made
at this institute.
Professor Nic Jones, Chief Scientist,
Cancer Research UK
Our world-class scientists and doctors collaborate with cancer experts in over
50 countries, working together to fight cancer.
Introducing The Francis Crick Institute
Understanding why cancer spreads
and why it can come back
It’s been hailed as a once-ina-lifetime opportunity. Why?
With the benefits of new and powerful
technology, whole new fields of science
have opened up. We’re creating a culture
of multi-disciplinary teams working
together, combining biology, medicine,
physics and mathematics to solve the
incredibly complex challenges we face.
‘Yes, you’re cured.’ These are
words that every patient longs
to hear after cancer treatment.
But no doctor can say with absolute
certainty that all the cancer cells
have been destroyed, and all too
often the disease will return.
We want to take away the fear of
cancer spreading or coming back,
by understanding why this happens
and finding ways to stop it.
(continued)
This is an unmissable opportunity
to bring together accomplished and
imaginative scientists, and give them
access to state-of-the-art facilities.
Bringing scientists from different
disciplines together under one roof
will encourage innovative thinking
and new ways of working.
This will help spark new ideas to unravel
the mysteries behind the major diseases
that humanity faces.
A scientific collaboration of this
unprecedented scale will deliver much
more in terms of patient benefit and
more than we could achieve on our own.
And as a result we will see life-saving
discoveries being made quicker than
ever before.
This is a huge step towards Cancer
Research UK’s vision of beating cancer.
For more information visit
www.crick.ac.uk
£650m
the cost of the project
£160m
Cancer Research UK’s contribution
1,500 staff
including 1,250 scientists
when fully operational
2015
the year that The
Francis Crick Institute
is due to open
Wadsworth3D
Q
06
3.6 acres
the size of the site near
King’s Cross, London
S cience carried out in our London Research Institute has led to critical cancer drugs, such as
Herceptin and Tarceva.
We are the only cancer charity in
the UK with the knowledge and
expertise to do this for every type of
cancer, and this year we have made
some significant discoveries.
Why does cancer spread?
One of the biggest challenges in
successfully treating cancer is preventing
it from spreading around the body and
controlling cancer that has already spread.
Our scientists are using innovative
techniques to explore how and
why it happens. These are revealing
opportunities to develop new treatments
designed to stop cancer in its tracks.
Our researchers have revealed more
about the signals that drive skin cancer
to spread, opening new avenues of
research to tackle the disease. They
found that when a gene which normally
acts as a brake on cell movement is
turned off, it can cause the skin cancer
to become more aggressive, enabling
it to spread to the lungs.
07
We have revealed how two genes
can ‘hijack’ part of the body’s natural
defences against cancer, helping the
disease to grow and spread.
In future we may be able to
prevent cancer spreading by
determining which patients
will benefit from drugs that
either stimulate or suppress
the body’s defences,
said Dr Marcos Vidal, from our
Beatson Institute
Our scientists discovered more about
how tumours of the nervous system
can spread along nerves. They found
they might do this by mimicking signals
that normally guide the growth of
nerve cells that are being repaired.
This insight could help researchers
identify ways to stop this type of
cancer spread.
Why does cancer come back?
Our research into stem cells is
revealing why some cancers are
resistant to treatment and can return.
Cancer stem cells are normal stem
cells which have become faulty. They’re
found in a number of different cancers,
including breast, bowel and prostate
cancer, and leukaemia.
continued…
We are dedicated to finding ways to save the lives of people whose cancer has spread.
Understanding why cancer spreads
and why it can come back
Many researchers think that cancer stem
cells are the driving force behind some
cancers, producing large numbers of
‘bulk’ cells which make up tumours.
While radiotherapy and chemotherapy
kill off these bulk cells, they are less
effective against the more resistant
cancer stem cells. This could explain
why some cancers come back, as these
resistant cells start multiplying again
after treatment.
Wendy McQuilkin, 58,
from Oxfordshire, has had
breast cancer three times
We have established a Cancer Stem
Cell Consortium. We hand-picked
world-class research groups to
collaborate on unravelling the role of
cancer stem cells in breast, prostate
and head and neck cancers. This
research will identify important leads
for more effective treatments for
a range of cancers.
We’re making progress
towards treatments
that could stop cancer
returning, allowing
more people to get the
‘all clear’ once and for all.
Living with the uncertainty
I still live with the fear of my cancer
coming back every day – and it
has been 16 years since I was first
diagnosed with breast cancer.
I felt numb when they found it during
a routine mammogram. I was successfully
treated with tamoxifen and was fine
for six years but it was always at the
back of my mind. Then I was diagnosed
with aggressive cancer in the other
breast which had also gone into the first
lymph gland.
08
Fact or achievement about Cancer Research UK corro que nullab iscim qui
09
What is a stem cell?
Stem cells have the potential to
develop into many different cell types
in the body. They also have the unique
property of being able to multiply
indefinitely to make more cells.
Our scientists have made discoveries
about stem cells in the gut. They now
understand more about how these
stem cells grow and divide, which could
one day lead to better treatments for
people with bowel cancer.
By specifically targeting cancer
stem cells our team hopes to
develop new treatments for
cancers that are currently hard
to beat, said Professor Fiona Watt,
leader of the Cancer Stem Cell
Consortium from our Cambridge
Research Institute
I was devastated that I had to have a
mastectomy followed by chemotherapy
and radiotherapy, and when I decided
to have the other breast removed a
couple of years later, they did find the
beginnings of cancer.
Now I’m fine apart from a few aches
and pains. The fear of cancer returning
stays with you, but it helps to talk
about it and I feel lucky to see my
grandchildren grow up. If it wasn’t
for research into new treatments
I wouldn’t be here.
Around nine out of ten cancer deaths are caused by the disease spreading to other parts
of the body.
Revolutionising the way we diagnose
and treat cancer
Imagine a time when everyone
in the UK can be tested to
see if their genes put them
at increased risk of cancer.
Then they’re given tailored
lifestyle advice and screening
to help prevent the disease.
Those that do develop cancer
receive personalised treatment,
based on their own and their
cancer’s genetic make-up, giving
them the greatest possible chance
of beating the disease.
This might seem like an idealistic vision of
the future. But we’re working to make it
a reality.
Our genes make us individual, from the
way we look to our risk of developing
different diseases. Cancer arises when
specific genes become faulty. A key
challenge we face in treating cancer is
that every patient and every tumour
is genetically different.
Greater knowledge of our genes and
their role in cancer will allow us to better
understand the biology of the disease
and will ultimately lead to improvements
in patient care. This year, we’ve
developed three major areas of work
that will help us build a more detailed
picture of the many genetic changes
that lead to cancer.
We joined the International Cancer
Genome Consortium, which aims to
comprehensively catalogue the genetic
faults involved in 50 different types of
cancer. In March 2011, we launched an
ambitious project studying the genetic
changes involved in oesophageal
(foodpipe) cancer – currently one of the
hardest cancers to treat. We’re also
working with Canadian and French
scientists to study the faults behind
prostate cancer. Both these projects will
give us insights into the causes of these
cancers that will ultimately lead to new
and improved tests and treatments.
The last decade has seen rapid
advances in the techniques used to
analyse genetic information from
human cells, making it easier, cheaper
and quicker for scientists to reveal
the secrets of our DNA. Our new
Genomics Initiative, launched in
March 2011, will take advantage of
these sophisticated new methods of
gene sequencing* to help us answer
some key questions about cancer
and how we can best treat it.
We need to be ready to take
advantage of what we’re learning from
this research so it can benefit patients
as soon as possible. Our Stratified
Medicine Programme will help us lay
the foundations for more personalised
cancer treatment. Find out how on
page 33.
Our scientists showed the importance of the gene BRCA1 in breast and ovarian cancer and 10
went on to discover the BRCA2 gene…
Each of these initiatives plays an essential
part in making our vision of tailoring
cancer treatment to individuals a reality.
Sequencing the genome
The right treatment for the right
patient – that’s what we need if
we’re going to beat cancer.
The work we’re doing to fully
understand cancer’s genetic
make-up is an essential part of this.
And we’ve now got opportunities
we never thought possible.
Dr Rebecca Fitzgerald, University
of Cambridge
*What is gene sequencing?
Our genes are made up of miniscule
DNA building blocks called ‘base pairs’
organised in a specific sequence. There
are around 3 billion of these pairs in
every cell – making up an amazing
2 metres of DNA.
Changes to the sequence of these base
pairs can lead to cancer. To understand
how cancer develops, scientists are
studying the sequence of our genes.
From 1989 it took
13 years to sequence
all of the genes in a
human cell through the
Human Genome Project.
Today, it would
take just 8 days.
Gene sequencing – the technique used
to identify changes to these base pairs –
can be done a million times faster today
than in the 1980s.
The latest generation of sequencing
machines can ‘read’ 250 billion base pairs
in a week, compared to 5 million in 2000
and just 25,000 in 1990.
11
…these discoveries allow women with a family history of breast cancer to be tested for these
genes so that doctors can offer them choices about prevention and screening.
Urine protein test could indicate prostate cancer
We are dedicated to finding ways
to prevent people from developing
cancer.
Living with prostate cancer
I visited my doctor in December
2008 and had a PSA test, which
came back slightly raised. A biopsy
confirmed prostate cancer. I was
really concerned – I lost my father
to the disease. Crucially, my cancer
was caught early. I had keyhole
surgery and a scan has shown the
cancer hasn’t spread. Early
diagnosis is so important, and
Cancer Research UK’s work into
new ways of screening is vital.
We lead large studies to understand more
about the preventable causes of cancer,
and are investigating the potential of drugs
that could prevent the disease in future.
David Michael, 57, from London
Our success in finding cancer
genes is already leading to new
discoveries that could help detect
cancer earlier.
This year, our scientists linked a common
genetic change associated with prostate
cancer risk to reduced amounts of a
protein called MSMB. Measuring the
levels of this protein in urine could form
the basis of a new test to help identify
whether men like David (pictured
above) might be at higher risk of
developing the disease.
12
Preventing cancer
It could also potentially be used alongside
the current PSA blood test to improve
detection of prostate cancer and for
monitoring progression of the disease.
This is a vital piece of research
that could go a long way to find a
much-needed reliable and simple
test to identify men most at risk
of developing prostate cancer.
If studies show this marker can
be used in the clinic, this will be
a landmark discovery.
Professor David Neal, prostate
cancer specialist at our Cambridge
Research Institute
Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men in the UK. We are the UK’s largest funder of prostate cancer research.
Our health campaigns inform people
about cancer, the risks, signs and
symptoms, and the importance of
screening and early detection. Because
up to half of all cancers could be
prevented by lifestyle changes, we fund
research into effective ways to encourage
healthy choices and we work with the
government to provide research evidence
to support new policies.
13
Fact or achievement about Cancer Research UK corro que nullab iscim qui
Helping young people to be SunSmart
Lindsey Coane was studying at
university in Liverpool when she
was diagnosed with malignant
melanoma on her leg. She was 21.
I used sunbeds every week for
nearly two years and used to get
sunburnt while on holiday with my
friends. I’m convinced this caused
my malignant melanoma,
says Lindsey, an architectural assistant
from Preston.
Lindsey (pictured opposite) isn’t alone
– skin cancer is an increasing problem
in the UK. Every day two people
under 35 in Britain are diagnosed with
malignant melanoma, the most serious
form of skin cancer.
Most skin cancers are caused by
overexposure to UV radiation from the
sun. Our SunSmart campaign encourages
people to enjoy the sun safely and aims
to reduce the number of people in the
UK who get melanoma.
SunSmart style
We are constantly looking for effective
ways to engage young teenage audiences
with health messages.
This year we combined forces with
fashion website ASOS to encourage
people to avoid sunburn. A ‘Fashion
Forecast’ tool on their website allowed
people to create outfits that were
stylish but protected them from the sun.
It also offered users advice about their
skin type.
We reached over 42,000 young people
in the UK and the majority of those who
used the tool said they’d take some kind
of action to protect themselves against
sunburn. This was a great result.
Using sunbeds once or more
a month could increase the
risk of skin cancer by more
than 50%
Showing young people just how
dangerous sunbeds can be
Our LeathaFace campaign, featuring a
wannabe rapper with an over-the-top
sunbed tan, ran on Facebook and
YouTube. The video was viewed
over 90,000 times, making this a
cost-effective way of reaching young
people with compelling information
about the dangers of sunbeds.
I really regret using sunbeds,
but I’m very lucky that the cancer
was caught when it was. A lot of skin
and tissue still needed to be taken out
of my leg, cutting through some of my
nerves, which has left my leg partially
numb. I had to learn to walk again and
then run. The first event I took part
in was Race for Life – it was such a big
achievement for me.
LeathaFace put the spotlight on our
work to prevent under-18s from using
sunbeds. In April 2011, thanks to our
campaigning, new legislation came into
force to make this a reality in England
and Wales – this major achievement will
prevent skin cancers in the future.
Meet LeathaFace at
www.youtube.com/LeathaFaceUK
14
Melanoma is the second most common cancer among 15–34 year olds in the UK.
Lindsey Coane, 27, from Preston
Malignant melanoma survivor
15
Fact or achievement about Cancer Research UK corro que nullab iscim qui
Keeping tobacco Out of Sight, Out of Mind
Detecting and diagnosing cancer earlier
Smoking remains the single biggest
preventable cause of cancer, yet
every day hundreds of children in
the UK start smoking.
More than 420 people lose their
lives to cancer every day in the UK,
but this number could be reduced
if cancer was diagnosed earlier.
From eye-catching displays in shops to
alluring packaging, marketing is a key
reason young people start to smoke.
We want this to stop. In 2011, our
Out of Sight, Out of Mind campaign had
a major impact on government policy:
in the future, tobacco will no longer be
prominently displayed in shops. This is a
fantastic result and real testament to all
the hard work of our Cancer Campaigns
supporters and our Ambassadors.
Find out more about our campaign at
www.cancercampaigns.org.uk/
ourcampaigns
I supported Out of Sight, Out of Mind
because I want to protect future
generations from the dangers of
tobacco. I am a businessman, but I’d
rather make my money selling
birthday cards than sympathy cards.
John McClurey, a shopkeeper
and councillor from Tyne and Wear
Supermarkets will have to remove their
tobacco displays by April 2012, but
unfortunately children will be exposed to
persuasive tobacco marketing in smaller
shops until April 2015. The government
is also considering our call to make plain
packaging compulsory – something we
see as the next crucial step.
Helping to improve the nation’s health
Our Cancer Awareness Roadshow
reaches out to people most in
need of cancer information and
support, by visiting communities
where rates of cancer are among
the highest and survival rates
among the lowest.
This year the Roadshow visited over
150 different sites, welcoming over
60,000 people – more than ever before.
Our specially trained nurses encourage
and empower people to make lifestyle
changes to help reduce their risk of
cancer. They also highlight the importance
of screening and spotting cancer early.
16
Nine out of ten visitors say they intend
to make changes to reduce their cancer
risk. Messages also reach visitors’ friends
and family. On average, each visitor talks
about the Roadshow to three other
people – meaning we have potentially
reached a further half a million people
indirectly since the Roadshow started.
Partnerships are vital to the Roadshow’s
success. We work alongside communitybased public health workers, who help
signpost visitors to local health services
and initiatives.
More than a quarter of all cancer deaths in the UK are caused by smoking.
We’re leading a pioneering programme
of research to develop better screening
and diagnostic tests, and we work with
the government to make sure the most
effective methods are part of the UK’s
cancer screening programmes.
As co-leaders of the National Awareness
and Early Diagnosis Initiative (NAEDI),
we research the barriers to early
diagnosis, encouraging people to go
to their doctor as soon as they notice
potential signs of cancer and supporting
GPs with the difficult job of swift but
accurate referral to specialists.
17
Fact or achievement about Cancer Research UK corro que nullab iscim qui
Earlier diagnosis is key to boosting cancer survival
Targeting GPs to help improve early diagnosis
Diagnosing cancer at an earlier
stage means the chances of treating
it successfully are higher. But all too
often in the UK cancer is diagnosed
at a stage when curative treatment
is not possible.
For the first time, we have run a
campaign specifically designed to
keep cancer at the forefront of
GPs’ minds. We targeted GPs for
three months by building a Cancer
Research UK microsite within
Doctors.net.uk – known as the
‘Facebook for doctors’.
To tackle this problem, we need a
collaborative approach – involving the
public, GPs, nurses and hospitals.
In 2009 we established an advisory
group, made up of GPs and practice
nurses. These health professionals give
us up to 20 hours of their time each
year to help us shape our work in
health and policy.
This work ensures that everything we
do is informed by the experience and
knowledge of those working on the
frontline with patients.
We are working with partners to try
to ensure that, by 2020, two-thirds of
all people with cancer will be diagnosed
at a stage when the cancer can be
successfully treated.
To find out more about our 2020 goals,
visit aboutus.cancerresearchuk.org/
who-we-are/our-goals
Every day 10,000 GPs visit Doctors.net.uk.
Our site gave them a chance to see vital
cancer statistics, health and patient
information and our blog. It allowed
them to keep up-to-date with the latest
news and developments in cancer, and
offered access to resources for them
and their patients.
Early referrals
Up to 10,000 deaths each year in the UK
could be avoided if cancer was diagnosed
earlier. GPs are often the first medical
professionals that people with possible
signs and symptoms of cancer see.
As a busy GP who sees many
patients with symptoms that
might be cancer, I welcome the
coordinated efforts being made
through NAEDI, and supported by
Cancer Research UK, to improve
early diagnosis and survival for
cancer patients.
Dr Pawan Randev, GP and
Cancer Lead from London
18
Diagnosing cancer at an early stage is one of the most promising areas through
which we could improve cancer survival in the UK.
On average, a GP will see only eight
new cases of cancer every year, but may
suspect the disease in many more patients.
In a poll we ran on Doctors.net.uk,
98% of GPs said missing a diagnosis of
cancer is their top concern.
Reaching more GPs
Through our partnership with
Doctors.net.uk, we reached 22,000
GPs in just three months. Our research
showed nearly a quarter more doctors
would visit our website to keep up-todate with cancer-related information.
Busy GPs need to find accurate
information quickly. Cancer
Research UK is helping to equip
frontline professionals with the
resources they need to detect and
diagnose cancer early. This work is
vital to help save more lives.
Dr George Ewbank, GP from Derbyshire
We will continue to work with GPs,
practice nurses and clinicians to prevent
and diagnose cancer earlier and to make
sure patients have accurate information
throughout their cancer journey.
Helping GPs refer patients effectively
is a key step in improving early diagnosis.
That’s why the aim of our campaign
was to provide them with evidencebased information that supports their
knowledge and encourages them to think
about the role they play in early diagnosis.
19
35,000 GPs and 13,000 practice nurses receive our Cancer Insight newsletter.
Saving lives through better screening
When Jim Scott, a retired BT
technician from Dundee, received
a home screening test for bowel
cancer he didn’t think too much
about it.
Although I knew it was
sensible to complete and
send it back, I was feeling on
top form, but further tests
discovered a cancerous
growth. My world just turned
upside down. I just couldn’t
believe it, but I knew I was
lucky that it had been caught
when it was,
says Jim, pictured opposite
Bowel cancer is the second biggest
cancer killer in the UK, claiming more
than 16,000 lives every year. Last year,
scientists made a major breakthrough.
The results of a 16-year trial we helped
to fund showed that a new test could
change these statistics forever and
potentially save the lives of thousands
of people like Jim.
Beating bowel cancer
Flexible sigmoidoscopy (flexi sig) cut
the number of cases of bowel cancer
by a third and reduced deaths from
the disease by 43% for those who
had the test.
20
Now, thanks in part to our campaigning,
the government will add this life-saving
test to England’s bowel cancer screening
programme. We’re pushing Wales,
Scotland and Northern Ireland to follow
England’s example.
Our research has been used to
develop and improve the UK’s
national screening programmes
for breast, bowel and cervical
cancer, which save thousands of
lives each year.
Breakthrough test
As with many cancers, early detection
of bowel cancer is vital. Research
suggests that over 90% of bowel cancer
patients will survive the disease for more
than five years if it’s diagnosed at the
earliest stage.
The current screening programme
was introduced in England in 2006 for
60–69 year olds, and we are already
seeing more cases being detected in
the over-60s. People in their 60s are
sent a kit through the post for them to
return stool samples. These are then
checked in a lab for traces of blood that
could be a sign of cancer, in which case
a colonoscopy will be offered.
My cancer was caught quite
early, but I did need extensive surgery
so it was a tough time. I’ll always be
thankful for the screening tests and the
incredible skills of everyone who helped
me. This new test sounds tremendous
and it’s great that it’s going to be added
to the screening programme.
The new flexi sig test involves a tube
with a tiny camera and light at the end.
In as little as five minutes it can spot, and
remove, polyps (pre-cancerous growths)
before they have a chance to develop
into cancer.
Adding this new test to the current
screening programme could be the
biggest breakthrough in beating
bowel cancer for a generation.
Although cancer can affect anyone at any age, nearly nine out of ten cases
are in people over 50.
Jim Scott, 64, from Dundee
Bowel cancer survivor
21
Fact or achievement about Cancer Research UK corro que nullab iscim qui
Developing a life-saving
bowel cancer test
Flexi sig might take as little as
five minutes, but the research
behind advances like this requires
collaboration and investment over
many years.
1999
The trial finishes
recruiting – 170,500
people take part.
1960s–1980s
Techniques – including
flexi sig – are developed
to detect growths and
early cancers in people
with a strong family
history or symptoms
of bowel cancer.
2010
1993
Our researchers publish
a study outlining the
need for a large UK trial
to test whether flexi sig
should be part of a
national screening
programme.
Important early results
from the trial show
that flexi sig is safe and
acceptable to people
as a screening test.
2011
1994
The UK flexi sig trial
opens and is led by
Cancer Research UK
researcher Professor
Wendy Atkin.
22
2002
Fact or achievement about Cancer Research UK corro que nullab iscim qui
Breakthrough results are
published, showing that
flexi sig cut deaths from
bowel cancer by 43%
among those screened
and cases by a third
during the ten years
following the test.
We start campaigning
for the UK government
to introduce it as soon
as possible.
23
The government agrees
to add the test to the
bowel cancer screening
programme in England.
We’re calling on the
governments in Wales,
Scotland and Northern
Ireland to do the same.
Fact or achievement about Cancer Research UK corro que nullab iscim qui
Concerns about your health? There’s an app for that…
Developing better treatments
We all know it’s easy to put
off seeing the doctor when
something’s wrong. Maybe we
don’t think we’ve got real cause
for concern, or perhaps we’re
worried about wasting the
doctor’s time.
Thanks to our role in developing
cancer treatments, hundreds
of thousands of people have
beaten cancer.
This is where our new mobile phone
application for smartphones comes in.
Launched in April 2011, the ‘Signs and
Symptoms’ app has been downloaded
more than 100,000 times. It helps people
find out about all the possible symptoms
of cancer, and encourages them to get
checked out as soon as they notice any
unusual changes in their bodies.
The app allows users to focus on a
certain area of their body via the touch
screen. Other options appear when you
click on these areas of the body, which
leads to information and advice on what
to do if you think you have any of the
symptoms mentioned.
Not everyone will go to the doctors
to be checked out as they may be
too stubborn or too shy. Even if this
helps make just one person more
aware of the signs of cancer it’s
money well spent.
Jamie, app user
Our ‘Signs and Symptoms’ app is
free and easy to download onto any
iPhone or Android smartphone.
Simply search for ‘Cancer Research UK’
or ‘cancer signs’ in the iTunes store or
the Android Marketplace.
We’ll also be releasing a version for the
iPad platform too and there’s a version
on our website, so that as many people
as possible can find out about the
symptoms of cancer.
Spread the word
If you like the app, tell people about it
and help spread the word that spotting
cancer early can make a real difference.
See our app at
www.cancerresearchuk.org/
signs-and-symptoms
24
Cancer is more often diagnosed at a later stage in this country than elsewhere. Partly as a result of this, our survival rates are poorer than in some other parts of the world.
Our doctors and scientists are now
working on the cancer treatments of
tomorrow – tailored treatments that are
more effective with fewer side effects.
We are boosting research into surgery
and radiotherapy, which play an important
part in treatment for most patients whose
cancer is cured. We’re also promoting
studies into hard to treat cancers such as
lung, oesophageal, brain and pancreatic.
Our work spans the entire spectrum of
‘bench to bedside’ – from early studies
to discovering new drugs to clinical trials
testing new cancer treatments.
25
Helping more children beat leukaemia
Siobhan and her husband felt
like their whole world had come
crashing down when their daughter
Katie was diagnosed with acute
lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL).
Two years later when Katie was
five, the disease returned. ‘It was
even worse – our instincts told us
we were now fighting to save her
life,’ says Siobhan, Katie’s mum.
Katie’s parents agreed to enrol her onto
a clinical trial for a new treatment for
ALL that returns, called mitoxantrone.
Increased survival
Over the past 40 years, thanks to huge
improvements in chemotherapy, the
number of children surviving ALL has
risen to more than eight out of ten.
But for children whose ALL returns,
survival had remained constant at
around 50% – until now. This trial,
which we helped to fund, showed that
mitoxantrone can increase survival to
almost 70% for those children.
We believed that with the clinical
trial Katie had the best chance of
recovery. We would do it again
to help other families and other
children like Katie in the future,
says Siobhan Currie
26
Mitoxantrone increases
survival to almost
70% for children whose
acute lymphoblastic
leukaemia returns.
Katie Currie, 8,
from East Kilbride, Scotland
Acute lymphoblastic
leukaemia survivor
Manchester-based paediatrician
Professor Vaskar Saha has been
leading this research on mitoxantrone.
The drug works by jamming a molecule
in cancer cells responsible for untwisting
DNA. Blocking this process literally ties
the cell’s DNA up in knots, so it can’t
grow and multiply. It also works on
cancer cells that have resisted previous
treatment – even if they’re ‘hidden’
amongst healthy cells.
Groundbreaking research
The trial results were so striking that it
was stopped early so that all children
taking part could be offered the new
treatment – something that hasn’t
happened in any previous trials for
childhood ALL. Mitoxantrone is now the
standard treatment for children like Katie
across the world, offering hope to many
families. With around 370 children being
diagnosed with ALL every year, it’s a
reminder of how vital clinical trials are
in improving cancer treatment.
Without these trials,
amazing new treatments
may never be found.
Mitoxantrone probably
saved Katie’s life.
Today, thanks to research, more than
three-quarters of children beat cancer,
compared to just a quarter in the
1960s. But we’re not there yet. We’re
determined that all children like Katie
have a future.
We’ve funded many of the world’s most successful trials of new treatments for children
with cancer.
Siobhan Currie, Katie’s mum
27
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We’re boosting research
into pancreatic cancer
– to detect it sooner,
improve treatments and
save lives.
Fighting pancreatic cancer
My vision is that we come up with
medicines that treat the root cause
of pancreatic cancer and, at the
same time, improve the health of
patients with the disease while we
treat them.
Professor David Tuveson at our
Cambridge Research Institute
When I was told I had three to six
months to live, more than two years
ago now, I was devastated. I was put
onto one of David Tuveson’s clinical
trials. The treatment shrank the
tumour and I believe I wouldn’t have
had the quality of life I’ve had without
it. But I developed thrombosis and
wasn’t well enough to take part in any
more trials. We need to support more
research and clinical trials, and I’d like
to see GPs get better training about
the symptoms of the disease so they
can diagnose it earlier.
Rosemary Turner, 67, from Cambridgeshire,
was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer
in early 2009
28
Fact or achievement about Cancer Research UK corro que nullab iscim qui
Pancreatic cancer urgently needs
more research. That’s why we’re
funding the work of Professor
David Tuveson at our Cambridge
Research Institute (CRI).
I believe we will come up with medicines
that treat the root cause of pancreatic
cancer, the ‘ras’ gene, and, at the same
time, improve the health of patients with
the disease while we treat them.
When I was training at a Massachusetts
hospital in the early 1990s there were no
effective treatments for this devastating
disease. By the time we met patients it
was too late for them to have treatment,
they were too ill to cope and responded
poorly to medicines. Twenty years on,
that’s still the case. This needs to change.
New hope
We are testing two new treatments:
the first seems to shrink the scar tissue
of tumours, which allows us to deliver
chemotherapy more effectively into
them; the second appears to change the
structure of tumours, which could also
help us treat the disease. Both of these
treatments should enable people to live
longer and improve their quality of life.
Exciting science
Less than 20% of people survive
pancreatic cancer for a year once they’ve
been diagnosed. Neither of the two
current treatments used has the impact
we want because it’s so difficult to get
drugs into pancreatic cancer tumours.
But I’m hopeful for the future. I work at
Cancer Research UK’s CRI, a state-ofthe-art facility where the potential for
progress is palpable and very exciting.
29
As pancreatic cancer is so aggressive,
patients are often not well enough to
take part in trials, so we are also looking
at new approaches to deal with the
pain, blood clotting and muscle wasting
associated with this disease.
I believe that we will discover a
treatment for pancreatic cancer and
develop medicines that improve the
welfare of patients. I’m cautiously
optimistic that I’m going to lose my job!
Just 3% of people with pancreatic cancer survive for five years or more.
Testing treatments that save lives
Without clinical trials, and the
volunteers who take part in them,
our groundbreaking research would
not be possible. They are a vital
part of developing new ways to
prevent, detect and treat cancer,
improving the quality of life for
cancer patients and helping more
people to survive the disease.
This year, abiraterone, a drug for
advanced prostate cancer which was
first discovered and developed by our
scientists, reached a landmark stage of
development. Results from a large trial
involving nearly 1,200 men showed that
this treatment can provide patients with
valuable extra months of life. This could
make a huge difference to the 10,000
men diagnosed with aggressive forms
of the disease in the UK every year.
We hope this drug will be available to
prostate cancer patients by early 2012.
We’re now funding a trial to find out
whether abiraterone can help treat
breast cancer.
I’m delighted to have contributed
to research into the treatment
of cancer. The medics and
researchers do the hard work
but I’m pleased I could put their
efforts into practice and test
these new treatments.
John Condor, retired Royal Navy
Serviceman and patient, on a clinical
trial in Southampton.
I’m taking part in trials for
a treatment called taxol and another that
monitors my blood every month. I wanted
to try and help someone else, even if the
trial doesn’t help me. We’ll never get to the
bottom of these diseases without clinical
trials and we need to have hope. I get
through it because I live life for today.
Rita Negus, 63, from Cambridge, has had
ovarian cancer since 2006 and is
taking part in two clinical trials.
We also had results from a major
bladder cancer trial, which showed
that adding two commonly-used
chemotherapy drugs to traditional
radiotherapy can reduce the chance
of a patient’s tumour coming back by
a third. The trial was the largest of its
kind in bladder cancer in the world.
This treatment could mean fewer
patients with invasive bladder cancer
will need radical surgery to completely
remove their bladder.
Many women with ovarian
cancer are living longer thanks
to carboplatin, a treatment
which we discovered.
Our CancerHelp UK website
includes a unique searchable
database of UK cancer clinical trials,
written in plain English specifically
for patients and relatives.
www.cancerhelp.org.uk/trials
cont…
30
Since 1995, more than 100,000 patients have taken part in our treatment trials.
31
Fact or achievement about Cancer Research UK corro que nullab iscim qui
Clinical trials: your questions
Q
Here, Anne Croudass, one of our
research nurses, answers some
frequently-asked questions about
this part of our life-saving research.
Q
Q
What are clinical trials?
All new cancer treatments and ways
to prevent or detect the disease have
to be thoroughly tested before they
are licensed and available for patients.
Something might look promising in the
lab, but we won’t yet know if it will help
people with cancer. Clinical trials aim
to find out if new treatments and tests
are safe, if they have side effects and
if they work better than the approach
currently used. Year on year, clinical trials
help to refine and improve existing ways
of diagnosing or treating people with
cancer, and save lives.
How many people take part?
We fund clinical trials in hundreds of
towns and cities across the UK, with
some recruiting patients in as many as
100 different hospitals. Last year, 31,000
people joined a trial supported by Cancer
Research UK – that’s three-quarters of all
people taking part in UK cancer trials.
32
Why are they so important?
We rely on people taking part in
clinical trials to make progress in our
fight against cancer. They provide
the evidence we need to improve
clinical care for cancer patients in the
future. Many thousands of people
have survived cancer as a result of
treatments and screening approaches
that we have developed or tested.
Our trials have led to improvements
in cancer diagnosis and care for many
different types of cancer including
breast, bowel, lung, skin, prostate
and pancreas.
We funded the largest-ever trial for
people with operable pancreatic
cancer. This showed that giving
chemotherapy to patients after
surgery could extend the lives of
people with the disease – this is now
standard practice worldwide. We also
funded pivotal clinical trials that have
shaped the way tamoxifen is used to
treat breast cancer today.
Q
What happens after a trial?
Trials can go on for several years after
a patient has stopped treatment, as
our researchers need to monitor the
long-term effects.
We fund around 200 cancer trials nurses at hospitals throughout the UK, who help to give treatments and care for people taking part in trials.
Tailoring treatment, transforming cancer care
When I was diagnosed with
breast cancer doctors identified
my cancer as HER2 positive, which
meant they knew I was likely to
benefit from the drug Herceptin.
I responded really well and,
thankfully, I’m now in good health
again. I hope more people in the
future will be able to benefit from
tailored treatment, as I have.
Deborah Parker, London
The process of identifying different
groups of patients and working out
which treatments, such as chemotherapy
or radiotherapy, are most likely to benefit
them is known as ‘stratified medicine’.
It’s the first step towards an era of
‘personalised medicine’ where doctors
will be able to match patients’ cancers to
the treatment they know will work best,
based on the genetic make-up of their
individual tumour.
Stratified medicine as part of
routine cancer care
To make this happen, we need to
develop cost-effective tests that identify
certain characteristics in cancer and
make them a routine part of choosing
treatment. Our Stratified Medicine
Programme, which launched this year,
will demonstrate how affordable genetic
tests to improve cancer diagnosis can
be rolled out across the NHS.
33
An essential part of this will be
to establish a research database
with information about tumours,
treatments and survival rates,
helping researchers design more
effective cancer tests and treatments
in the future.
Working in partnership to make
this programme possible
Our pharmaceutical partners
AstraZeneca and Pfizer will help fund
the first phase of the programme.
The UK government will provide
£50 million over the next five years to
help develop the technology we need
to introduce stratified medicine for
cancer and other diseases.
9,000 patients in the NHS will
be asked to take part in the first
phase of the programme and help
us develop standards and processes
for the service.
The programme is an essential step
towards helping more people like
Deborah receive treatment that is
tailored to their specific type of cancer
– giving them the best chance of
beating the disease.
Tests could also predict whether
certain drugs won’t work – sparing
people with cancer unnecessary
treatment and side effects and making
treatment more cost-effective.
Herceptin, Gleevec and Gefitinib are successful stratified medicines which are already helping thousands of breast, leukaemia and lung cancer patients.
Personalising cervical cancer treatment
Our work relies entirely on the
generosity and commitment of
our supporters.
‘Personalised’ medicine
could transform the lives
of cancer patients – that’s
why it’s one of our top
priorities.
Dr James Brenton is trying to
understand why some women
with cervical cancer respond well
to chemotherapy while others
have tumours that are ‘resistant’
to treatment.
In January, his team at our Cambridge
Research Institute found that women
whose cervical tumours have a particular
‘patchwork’ of genetic faults at the
beginning of treatment are more likely
to relapse.
34
Your support saves lives
We would like to say a huge thank you
to everyone who helped this year, in so
many different ways...
The more varied the patchwork
of genetic changes is at the start
of treatment, the more likely it
is that resistant cells are already
present that could re-grow after
chemotherapy. We are using
cutting-edge new gene sequencing
technology to test for rare
resistant cells before treatment
and to predict how successful
drugs will be.
Dr James Brenton, Consultant in
Medical Oncology at our Cambridge
Research Institute
Personalised medicine has the potential to revolutionise the way cancer is treated
and save lives worldwide.
You got together with friends, family and
colleagues and volunteered your time and
expertise. You joined local groups and
committees – organising everything from
quiz nights to toddler triathlons. You ran,
swam, hiked and biked, raising millions
as you went. You donated goods, bought
from our shops, gave in memory of loved
ones and left life-saving legacies.
Here we share just a few
supporters’ stories…
35
Race for Life – working towards our best year yet
In Battersea Park, London, 1994, over
600 women took part in the first Race
for Life to raise money for cancer
research. Every summer since, hundreds
of thousands of amazing women across
the UK come together to celebrate the
lives of family, friends or loved ones.
It’s been 10 years since
Tesco started supporting
Race for Life. To celebrate,
this year they’re helping us
recruit even more participants,
for what we hope will be the
best year yet.
Some of the women who take part
in Race for Life are cancer survivors,
while others walk, jog or run to support
our essential research. Our flagship
event has now attracted 5.4 million
participants and raised an incredible
£362 million.
Rise to the challenge
Whether you love to walk, run, cycle,
swim, or would like to volunteer your
support, we have an event for you.
supportus.cancerresearchuk.org/events
36
Fact or achievement about Cancer Research UK corro que nullab iscim qui
Tesco magazine team
Iona Newton, Sarah O’Neill,
Suzanne Ashley-Tagoe,
Sarah Neish, Teri Saville,
Sophie Chamier
(from left to right)
We enter a team into Race for
Life every year. We all have a family
history of cancer, so it’s a chance to
give something back. I run for my
nan, who died of cancer 12 years ago;
I know she’d be proud of me.
Sarah O’Neill, London
37
Fact or achievement about Cancer Research UK corro que nullab iscim
qui
PHOTOGRAPH: CAROLINE MOLLOY
How your unwanted items help beat cancer
More than 550 high streets in the
UK are home to one of our shops,
each turning the things people
no longer want into money to
beat cancer. Thanks to our 17,000
amazing shop volunteers, they are
a vital part of our fundraising, with
100% of the profits going towards
our life-saving work.
Phil Kerry, pictured opposite, tells us
about his work at our Arnold shop.
The people who donate can be
extremely generous. We often get
brand-new things still with their labels
on, and we were given a valuable first
edition of a book recently. Most people
bring clothes in already laundered, which
is great because we have to clean, steam
and press everything before it goes on
the shop floor. We need as many people
as possible to bring good-quality items
into the shop so that we have a wide
range of stock to sell.
For me, volunteering is a wonderful
experience. You don’t get paid, but
you do get to meet all kinds of people,
young and old – and there’s always
tea and biscuits!
There are about 20 volunteers
working in my shop, but there
are days when we’re short of
staff – we always need more
people to help.
38
Our shops: some highlights – 2010/11
Over 350,000 bags of goods were
donated, including nearly 60,000 given
at Race for Life, Shine and Relay For
Life events. One bag could be worth
as much as £30 and just five bags
could fund a cancer information nurse
for a day.
Support our shops
Donate your unwanted items or come
in and browse at a Cancer Research UK
shop near you. You can also shop online at
supportus.cancerresearchuk.org/shop
We joined forces with a range of
corporate partners, including TK
Maxx and HomeSense, for the Give
Up Clothes for Good campaign, which
generated £2.3 million worth of stock.
Actors Liam Neeson and Martin
Clunes, director Michael Winner and
footballer Les Ferdinand modelled
pink handbags for Breast Cancer
Awareness Month. The bags were
part of a new range of products sold
in our shops and online. Our shops
were also promoted by celebrity
chef Jean-Christophe Novelli and
TV presenter Lorraine Kelly.
I chose to volunteer in the shop after
I retired from working in the motor
industry because I wanted to give
something back. I have bladder cancer
which is being successfully treated. I also
had a brain tumour four years ago and
that’s been cured. The shops are a great
way of raising much-needed funds for
Cancer Research UK.
Could you give just a few hours a week
to become a shop volunteer like Phil?
supportus.cancerresearchuk.org/
shop/volunteer
Thanks to our shop teams and our customers we raised £270,000 more than the previous year for our life-saving work.
Phil Kerry, 71, from Nottingham,
is being treated for bladder cancer
39
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On track for a healthier workplace
‘If I hadn’t read that leaflet,
I might never have known I had
cancer.’ Stephen Boyd, a skilled
track worker for Network Rail in
Bournemouth, believes a Cancer
Research UK leaflet he saw in his
staff magazine may have saved
his life.
He noticed one of the symptoms
described in the leaflet and made an
appointment with his doctor. Just weeks
later, Stephen, 49, was being treated for
testicular cancer.
If my cancer hadn’t been caught
at an early stage, I may have
needed prolonged chemotherapy,
or may not have been here to share
my story.
The leaflet was part of a joint campaign
to bring essential cancer prevention and
detection messages to Network Rail’s
35,000 staff. ‘It’s vital that men are made
aware of the symptoms to look out for,’
says Stephen.
Raising awareness and raising
funds to beat cancer
Network Rail has also supported us
by donating advertising space in their
stations – from billboards to posters in
toilet cubicles – helping us reach millions
of passengers with our awareness and
fundraising messages.
40
Network Rail employees also raise
funds for our work by organising
everything from dragon boat races
to bake sales, and the company has a
matched giving scheme. In just over a
year, they’ve smashed their two-year
target of £1 million.
This money helps fund the research
projects that are part of the National
Awareness and Early Diagnosis
Initiative, helping more people like
Stephen to spot cancer earlier,
when treatment is more likely to
be successful.
Next year we’ll work together to
Reach 20,000 more Network Rail
contractors with health messages
Put cancer awareness leaflets in with
staff payslips
Bring healthy lifestyle messages to
their canteens
Share our vision
You can make a real difference
to a cause your staff and
customers care passionately
about by partnering with us.
supportus.cancerresearchuk.org/
corporate-partnerships
Network Rail is helping us achieve one of our 2020 goals – to make at least three-quarters of the UK public aware of lifestyle choices they can make to reduce their risk of getting cancer.
Get involved today
You’ve just read about
a few of the ways our
amazing supporters
are making a difference.
Here are some more
things you can do to help
beat cancer.
Do your own fundraising
or join a group
Whatever you enjoy doing, use it to
raise money to fight cancer. If you don’t
want to fundraise alone, join a group,
or why not start your own?
supportus.cancerresearchuk.org/
fundraising
Give your time
If you have the time, we have
the opportunity. Join more than
40,000 volunteers who regularly
support us by working in our shops
and offices, at events, and by
fundraising in their communities.
supportus.cancerresearchuk.org/
volunteering
Campaign with us
Our campaigners fight for changes that
save lives. We need you to help us keep
cancer at the top of the public agenda.
www.cancercampaigns.org.uk
Make a donation –
leave a lasting legacy
There are so many ways you can donate
to support our work. Why not set up
a direct debit, donate online or give
through a payroll scheme at work?
You can give in celebration of a special
event or in memory of a loved one.
Or help us make a difference in the
future by leaving a life-saving gift in
your Will. However big or small, your
donation will help us beat cancer.
www.cancerresearchuk.org/donate
Donate to a project
Choose the type of cancer you
want to beat and donate to a specific
Cancer Research UK project.
Your reasons, your choice.
myprojects.cancerresearchuk.org
Take part in an event
From sporting challenges to musical
extravaganzas, there are thousands
of events going on across the country
that support Cancer Research UK.
Make a date for your diary.
supportus.cancerresearchuk.org/
events
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Fact or achievement about Cancer Research UK corro que nullab iscim qui
How your donations help beat cancer
In almost every type of cancer,
we support more research
in the UK than any other funder.
The research that we’ve funded
over the years has saved hundreds
of thousands of lives – and will save
even more in the future.
However, we know that there needs to
be more research into harder to treat
cancers, such as lung, oesophageal, brain
and pancreatic. This is why, as part of our
five-year strategy and our 2020 goals,
we will increase the research we do in
these areas.
Our annual research activity in institutes,
hospitals and universities throughout the
UK was £332 million in 2010/11. We also
spent £16 million on our information and
influencing work, raising awareness of
For every £1 donated, 80 pence is
available to spend on our work to
beat cancer.
What we spent on research last year – 2010/11
£332 million – our annual research activity
cancer risks and symptoms, providing
information to people affected by cancer
and influencing health policies.
More than a third of our work is made
possible because people remember us
in their Wills. These legacies, along with
monthly donations, help us to plan vital
research far into the future.
Pancreatic
Brain
£3.8m
£5.9m
£25.2m
Bowel
£8.2m
£11.3m
Ovarian
80p
Research
Cancer information
Influencing public policy
42
£1
£14.0m
Skin
Non-Hodgkin lymphoma
£1
20p
Cost of raising
future funds
£18.5m
Prostate
£17.1m
Leukaemia
£11.7m
Lung
£1
£1
£123.4m
Research that underpins
advances in all
types of cancer
£8.5m
We use what’s left – 20 pence in every
£1 – to raise future funds. In fact,
for every £1 we spend on fundraising,
we raise over £4 more.
£1
£39.5m
Includes cervical,
kidney, stomach,
testicular and over
100 other cancers
Bladder
Our total fundraising income £433m
£148m Legacies
£100m Direct giving
£60m Events
£65m Shop income
£36m Other income
£24m Volunteer fundraising
£44.8m
Breast
£1
Our new fundraising event, the night-time walking marathon Shine, raised £2 million.
Our life-saving work relies entirely on
the money you give us. An amazing nine
out of ten of the donations we receive
are for £10 or less, proving that small
amounts really do make a big difference.
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Whatever the size of your donation,
you can be sure that we put your
money to the best possible use in
our fight against cancer.
ur most successful Relay For Life event took place on the Shetland Islands and raised an
O
amazing £227,000.
Funding research across the UK
Cancer Research UK West of Scotland
Cancer Centre (Glasgow)
Professor Karen Vousden’s world-leading research
focuses on a protein called p53 – a key player in the
body’s defence against cancer that our scientists first
discovered. Her team is finding new ways to treat
the disease by harnessing the power of this crucial
protein in cancer cells.
Every piece of research that we fund
takes us a step closer to beating cancer.
We fund all types of research, from
scientists investigating the causes of
cancer to UK-wide clinical trials testing
the effectiveness of new drugs.
Cancer research is a long-term investment.
Some discoveries in the lab can take many years
to benefit patients. Our current researchers
are building on years of work by generations of
excellent scientists before them. And, as we reveal
and understand more about this complex disease,
we will see greater numbers of people being
diagnosed earlier, treated more effectively and
surviving cancer for longer.
Just some locations
where we fund research
and support clinical trials
Cancer Research UK–MRC Gray Institute for
Radiation Oncology and Biology in Oxford
Dr Ricky Sharma is researching whether combining
a pioneering new radiotherapy treatment with
chemotherapy can help patients recently diagnosed
with bowel cancer that has spread to the liver.
The new treatment involves delivering tiny
radioactive beads directly into the blood supply
of tumours, targeting radiotherapy directly to
tumours while avoiding healthy tissue.
Velindre Hospital in Cardiff
Blood clots are common in people with lung
cancer and can be very serious if they start
to move through the body, so it is important to
find ways of preventing them. Dr Fergus Macbeth
is coordinating a clinical trial investigating whether
the blood-thinning drug dalteparin can reduce the
number of blood clots in people with lung cancer.
Derriford Hospital, Plymouth Hospitals
NHS Trust, Plymouth
Dr Simon Rule is researching new treatments
for lymphoma, a cancer of the white blood cells.
His team are carrying out a clinical trial looking at
treatments for a rare but aggressive form of the
disease called mantle cell lymphoma.
This is a national clinical trial involving at
least 24 locations, so that eligible patients all
over the UK can take part and have access to
this new therapy. Trials of this scale need a
level of support that only a large organisation
like Cancer Research UK can provide – their
funding is absolutely critical to the success of
this type of work.
Dr Ricky Sharma, Oxford
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Thanks to our supporters we fund over 4,000 scientists, doctors and nurses around the UK.
Queen’s University Belfast
Understanding more about how an important gene
called BRCA1 works may help scientists design
better cancer treatments. Faults in this gene cause
some inherited breast cancers, and are also often in
breast cancers that occur by chance. Professor Paul
Harkin is carrying out groundbreaking research into
the function of BRCA1.
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Our 16 Centres form a national framework through which we can deliver the greatest impact in the global fight against cancer.
Today, more than 95% of
men with testicular cancer
are cured, compared to less
than 70% in the early 1970s.
Thank you
Our life-saving work would not be possible without
the extraordinary generosity of our supporters and
the dedication of our scientists, clinicians, nurses
and volunteers.
We are immensely grateful to everyone who has
supported us over the past year by investing their
money, time and skills to help save lives.
In particular we’d like to thank the following supporters
and those who have chosen to remain anonymous.
Together we will beat cancer.
Our Patron
Her Majesty The Queen
Our Joint Presidents
HRH The Duke of Gloucester, KG, GCVO
HRH Princess Alexandra the Hon. Lady Ogilvy,
KG, GCVO
Our corporate partners
Admiral Group plc
AT&T Ltd
Barclays Bank plc
Beiersdorf UK Ltd
Cheltenham Racecourse
Coinstar Ltd
Comet Group plc
Compass Group UK and Ireland Ltd
Deloitte LLP
E.ON UK plc
Fable Trading Ltd
FlyBe Ltd
The Football Association
Giveacar Ltd
HSBC Bank plc
Ladbrokes in the Community Charitable Trust
Live Nation (Music) UK Ltd
Lloyds Banking Group plc
The London Marriott Business Council
46
Mackays Stores Ltd
Network Rail Infrastructure Ltd
The Pampered Chef Ltd
Peacocks Stores Ltd
Premier Foods plc
Princes Ltd
The Royal Bank of Scotland Group plc
Santander UK plc
Superdrug Stores plc
Telegraph Media Group Ltd
Tesco plc
TJX Europe
Towergate Charitable Foundation
Trailfinders Ltd
UK Mail Group plc
United Biscuits (UK) Ltd
Volvo Trucks
Wembley National Stadium
Williams Lea Ltd
Our major supporters
Carolyn Ackroyd
ATASS Foundation
Mrs Celia Atkin
Awareness
James Baldwin Trust
Mr Seve Ballesteros
The Robert Barr Charitable Trust
Over 90% of our donations are for £10 or less.
I first noticed a lump when I was
showering. The doctor confirmed it
was seminoma, a type of testicular
cancer, and I needed surgery. In 2002
I received radiotherapy for a tumour on
my lymph nodes. I then found another
lump on the other testicle. It was
unbelievable – I thought it was all over.
I had more surgery and chemotherapy.
Eight years later, I’m currently clear
of all signs of cancer, and I now have
two children, Keira and Daniel. Cancer
doesn’t have to be the end – sometimes
it’s a new beginning. The more vital
research we can fund, the more success
stories like mine we’ll be hearing.
Alim Erginoglu, 37, from Oxford
Testicular cancer survivor
47
Fact or achievement about Cancer Research UK corro que nullab iscim qui
Thank you
The Bascule Charitable Trust
Robert and Alison Bernays
Tony Bramall Charitable Trust
David and Jennifer Buxton
The Childwick Trust
John and Barbara Cotton
The Peter Cruddas Foundation
Lawrence Dallaglio OBE
The Dallaglio Foundation
Dr Naim Dangoor OBE
DG Charitable Trust
Mr Richard Dowling
Mr David Dutton
JT Ellis & Co Ltd
The England Footballers’ Foundation
Eveson Charitable Trust
The Miss Agnes H Hunter’s Trust
Mr and Mrs De Giorgi
Mr Jonathan Goldstein
Mike Gooley Trailfinders Charity
Sir Donald Gordon
The Grand Tour
The Gill Gurdit Singh Fund
Haematology Care Group
Miss G S Hamer Charitable Trust
Mr Bob Harris
Ada Hillard Charitable Trust
Eleanor Hughes
Marie Keating Foundation
Mr Ronan Keating
Robert and Anna King
The Jimmy Knapp Cancer Fund
J N Knox Memorial Fund
Kathleen Laurence Charitable Trust
Richard Lawes Foundation
Mr Brian Lay
Denise Leffman Trust
Louisa Lewisohn Memorial Fund
Mr and Mrs Lindsay-Hills
Joan Hilda Marwood
The Mayfair Committee
McClay Foundation
The McGrath Charitable Trust
Laurence Misener Charitable Trust
Stephanie Moore MBE
Mr Guy Morton
Mr David Moulsdale
The Edwina Mountbatten and Leonora
Children’s Foundation
The Musgrave Charitable Trust Ltd
Newman’s Own Foundation
48
Oak Foundation
The Suliman S. Olayan Foundation
Parthenon Trust
Peacock Trust
Mrs Irene Phillips
Pilkington Charities Fund
Lee and Caroline Portnoi
Nigel and Sue Pritchard
Juliette Proudlove Memorial Fund
Ranworth Trust
Damien Regent
Mr and Mrs S Roden
Rothschild
Laing O’Rourke Plc
Mrs Sue Scott
ShareGift
Mrs John N Somers
Mr Eddie Stobart
The Steel Charitable Trust
Rhoddy and Georgina Swire
Team England Footballers’ Charity
The Ryland Thompson Trust
Timpany Charitable Trust
Robin and Frances Tomkins
Myfanwy Townsend Melanoma Research Fund
The Annie Tranmer Charitable Trust
Garfield Weston Foundation
Pamela Williams Charitable Trust
Mr Thomas Wood MBE
Yelsel Trust
Victor Yeoh
Zochonis Charitable Trust
Our Trustees
Michael Pragnell, MA (Oxon) MBA (INSEAD) Chairman
Professor Anton Berns, PhD
Professor Adrian Bird, CBE FRS FRSE
Professor Colin Bird, CBE FRSE
Dr Philip H M Campbell, BSc MSc DSc FInstP FRAS
Sir James Crosby, BA FFA
Liz Hewitt, FCA BSc(Econ) FRSA
Professor Jonathan K C Knowles
Dr Melanie G Lee CBE BSc DSc(Hon) FMedSci Deputy Chairman (retired 23 September 2010)
Roger Matthews, ACA BSocSci
Dame Bridget Ogilvie AC DBE FRS
(retired 23 September 2010)
Dr Keith F Palmer, OBE Treasurer
Leah J Sowden, FCA CTA DChA
Professor Jeffrey Tobias, MD FRCP FRCR
In 2010/11 we recruited 60 new fundraising groups. They have already raised around £400,000.
CancerHelp UK
For information about cancer, trials
and research visit our CancerHelp UK
website www.cancerhelp.org.uk
Speak to a specialist cancer nurse
Our specialist nurses are on hand to
talk in confidence, Mon–Fri, 9am–5pm
on freephone 0808 800 4040.
Or email using the contact form at
www.cancerhelp.org.uk
Talk to others affected by cancer
Go to our online discussion forum
www.cancerchat.org.uk
If you have a question or feedback
for us, call 0300 123 1861 or send
us a message through our website
www.cancerresearchuk.org/contactus
For more information
The best way to get to know about
us and our work is through our website
www.cancerresearchuk.org
We have committed to a series of social and
environmental goals. You can find out more
about these at aboutus.cancerresearchuk.org/
sustainability
Donate £2 a month
to help beat cancer – call
0800 917 1602 today
Fundraise for us
call 08701 60 20 40 or visit
www.cancerresearchuk.org/supportus
to get started
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Share your story
0 1and help raise awareness –
email [email protected]
or call us on 020 3469 8303
A great deal of cancer research is carried out 0 1
without using animals, but in certain areas animal
1
research remains essential if we are to 0
understand,
prevent and cure cancer. We only use animals
when there is no alternative.
Cancer patients and their families are at the heart
10
of everything we do. We believe that all our
research is vital if we are to save the
lives
of
more
10
patients in the future.
Cancer Research UK
Angel Building
407 St John Street
London EC1V 4AD
T: +44(0)20 7242 0200
www.cancerresearchuk.org
LF013
Download a PDF of our Annual Review
and our Annual Report and Accounts at
aboutus.cancerresearchuk.org/our-annual-publications