My god-daughter’s death forced me to act, reveals PM, in pledge to catch cancer early

THE Prime Minister yesterday revealed how the death of her goddaughter from cancer had fuelled her determination to improve diagnosis and treatment.

A new cancer strategy would increase early diagnosis rates from onein-two to three-in-four within a decade, she vowed.

Theresa May said the NHS would set up “one-stop shops” for cancer checks to improve detection rates. GPS would refer all suspected cases to rapid diagnosis centres, which could sometimes provide results on the spot. The “scan first” strategy, revealed by The Daily Telegraph, meant patients could typically know an outcome within three weeks of first seeing a doctor.

At least 20 centres would open within two years, with more rolled out nationwide over the decade, officials said.

Mrs May told the Conservative Party conference that the death of her cousin’s daughter had inspired her to act, to spare others the “pain of losing a loved one before their time”.

Her decision to talk about the death was a rare insight into her normally closely guarded family life. Her voice broke with emotion as she told a hushed main hall: “Cancer can strike any of us at any time. A few years ago my god-daughter was diagnosed with cancer. She underwent treatment and it seemed to be working, but then the cancer came back. Last summer, she sent me a text to tell me she was hoping to see another Christmas. But she didn’t make it.”

She added: “Today I can announce a new cancer strategy, funded through our 70th birthday investment, will form a central part of our long-term plan for the NHS.”

It meant that by 2028, 55,000 more people would be alive five years after their diagnosis compared to today. “Every life saved means precious extra years with friends and family,” she said.

The strategy will form a central plank of a 10-year plan for the NHS, to be published later this year.