Macmillan’s pledge will spearhead cancer fight

Dundee: City has a higher than average rate of the disease

Dundee’s horrifying cancer mortality rate has led a leading charity to make a £1 million mercy donation to the city.

The city has a higher than average rate of almost all major cancers and has been identified by Macmillan Cancer Support as a key battleground.

While services exist to combat the illness, the charity believes significant improvements must be made and wants to meet the challenge head-on by investing in new services.

UK-wide research for a study entitled Hidden at Home found that in many cases levels of support for people with cancer were falling “woefully short”.

Just one in five people with cancer were found to receive any kind of formal support with much of the burden falling upon family of friends.

Dundee City Council leader Ken Guild believes the partnership, which councillors will be asked to vote on next week, will be of great benefit.

Mr Guild said: “The sad fact is that Dundee has a higher than average rate of all the major cancers, except prostate, and a much higher than average mortality from cancer when compared with the rest of the UK.

“The complex and sometimes deepseated reasons for this are being tackled by various bodies in the city, but improving this situation is a long-term goal.

“In the meantime, the proposed new partnership with Macmillan will help people who have cancer now to access services and get their needs met in a broader and more holistic way.”

Up to £1 million to be invested in the development of the Macmillan Local Authority Partnership over a three-year period has been set aside.

Over the next few months, Macmillan and the council will work together alongside individuals and groups to design a new way of supporting people with cancer in the city.

The new service is likely to begin operating towards the end of the year.

Dundee City Council is being asked to provide support in cash or kind to the value of just £15,000.

Macmillan’s head of services Janice Preston said: “Our research shows that 76% of people alive today who were diagnosed over the past 10 years have social care needs.

“These can include needing help getting out of the house, making meals or even getting out of bed.

“We know that many people who have had cancer also have emotional and financial problems that can last long after treatment ends.

“We are delighted to be working with Dundee City Council to design to a new way of supporting people with cancer.”