National Cancer Research Institute (NCRI)

Whenever I look at Cancer Research UK Facebook posts I always see comments from people who have something to say about the way the charity distributes its funds by cancer type. Obviously if you have had experience of a particular cancer type then you will be anxious to know that cures for that cancer type are being researched. If anyone actually asks me about this I always direct them to one place: The NCRI as they ensure the research funds and various research projects are distributed between the various charities funding research into cancer. So I thought I would use today’s post to talk about what the NCRI do.

What is the NCRI?

The UK has a rich history of researching cancer and the first charity dedicated to this was set up in 1902. Research activity has increased rapidly over the years as the number of cancer sufferers has gown. We now have government health departments as well as research councils and a whole host of charities funding cancer research. The National Cancer ResearchInstitute is a collection of some these UK cancer research funders. Between them the partners of the NCRI have funded over £4.5 BILLION since 2002 and they work together to make sure the funds are used to their best effect.

As there are so many different organisations doing research it is important that they work together to make sure the funds are put to the best use possible. This means they try not to duplicate research and try to ensure there are no gaps.

The NHS Cancer Plan was written in 2000 and proposedformalizing the connections of funders of research into cancer as, although they had been working together since the 90’s, there wasn’t a formal way of working and the NCRI was created in 2001 to do just that.

► NHS Cancer Plan 2000 (PDF)

 

The NCRI was originally formed with fifteen organisations and they provided funding to form a small secretariat. The early work of the NCRI was to provide a way of building connections between the partners and establishing a database of the funding so that areas of strength and weakness could be easily identified.

 

The role NCRI has grown and become more diverse over the years. As with most things, challenges were identified and things were developed and changed. The NCRI now has 22 partners who spend more then £500 million on research into cancer between them every year. As so many organizations are involved and so much money is handled, the need for the coordination of the NCRI is more important then ever.

 

The partner organizations are government or charity organizations supporting cancer research in the UK. They wish to work together to ordinate their research to avoid duplication of research and maximize the impact of their research for the benefit of the public.

 

The 22 members of the NCRI are:

*Department of Heath

*Cancer Research UK

*Macmillan Cancer Support

*Marie Curie Cancer Care

*Prostate Cancer UK

*ABPI

*Worldwide Cancer Research

*BBSRC

*Breakthrough Breast Cancer

*Breast Cancer Campaign

*Children with Cancer UK

*Chief Scientist Office

*Economic and Social Research Council

*Leukaemia and Lymphoma Research

*Ludwig Cancer Research

*Medical Research Council

*Public Health Agency

*Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation

*Tenovus

*National Institute for Social Care and Health Research

*Wellcome Trust

*Yorkshire Cancer Research

*The Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI) is also a member to recognize the importance of collaborating with pharmaceutical companies.

 

*The partners each spend at least £1million per year on cancer research in the UK and these funds are allocated by an independent peer review. Most of the partners will submit data on their projects to the NCRI Cancer Research Database every year as well as share the date with the other partners and the International Cancer Research Partnership.

*The partners pay an annual subscription which supports the core work of the NCRI.

*The NCRI does also work with organizations that do not meet their funding threshold, for example other cancer charities funding research projects or organizations working in diseases other then cancer but which have an overlapping interest of research.

* The NCRI partnership has a governing board which has meetings three times per year. This board is made up of senior members of the various NCRI partner organisations as well as lay representatives and other key stakeholders.  You can find info on their members and some minutes of past meetings on their website if you would like to have a look, the link is at the bottom of the page.

*The core business of the NCRI is funded by the partnerorganizations which make annual contributions to cover the costs. Initiatives are budgeted separately and funded by acombination of partner members and occasionally by non partner organisations who have an interest in that particular area.

*The NCRI does not directly fund research as their purpose is to ensure collaborated between the various funders rather then tocentralize the process of funding.

*The partners all have their own goals and their own strategiesto guide their way of funding and deciding which activities they take on but the NCRI does have a complimentary agenda as well.

 

 

 

The NCRI Strategic Plan 2012-2017

The strategic plan is aimed at renewing the commitment of the partners to keep working together and build on the various successes of the NCRI. There are still areas of research which are lagging behind so the NCRI seek ways of helping to advance these to add value to cancer research.

► Summary of NCRI strategic plan 2012-17 (PDF)

► NCRI strategic plan 2012-2017 (PDF)

 

The NCRI has different strands of work in place to support coordination of cancer research in the UK:

*NCRI Clinical Studies Groups – These provide a forum for researchers to develop trials and build a strategy within their area of expertise

*NCRI Cancer Conferences – The NCRI hold a conference each November with speakers from the UK and abroad showcasing cancer research

*NCRI Cancer Research Database – They collect and analyzedata from the partners to try to understand how the funding is spread out across the various areas of cancer research

*Research Initiatives – A programme of initiatives, which is constantly evolving, supports the development of research 

 

Supporting Cancer Research:

Topics are sometimes identified in which there are research needs that can be addressed collectively and the board may agree to exploratory work by either the Secretariat or a partner organization. This could lead to a project within an existing resource or the creation of a separate one. Many of these projects are aimed at coordination among researchers:

*Prevention – The National Prevention Research Initiative (NPRI) is aimed at increasing research activity with the creation of funding opportunites

*Early Detection – The National Awareness and EarlyDiagnosis Initiative (NAEDI) tried to boost research into the early detection of cancer by bringing funders together

*Cancer Intelligence – The National Cancer Intelligence Network (NCIN) is aimed at improving and using information on cancer patients in the NHS for research and analysis purposes

*Radiotherapy – CTRad links UK experts to allow national leadership to support the development of research intoradiotherapy

 *Biobanking – The Confederation of Cancer Biobanks (CCB) works on a common vision for biobanking in the UK and coordinates the activity

*PET Imaging – The NCRI Positron Emission Tomography (PET) Core Lab provides accreditation for sites participating in PET trials by providing quality control

*Surgery – A report from the NCRI is able to identifyopportunities for surgeons to become engaged in research

*End of Life Care – The UK End of Life Care Research Interest Group encourages research into end of life care as well as collaboration on the subject.

 *Grantsmanship – There is a gateway website which helps researchers identify funding sources and access advice from experts on the application development process for grants

 

There are ways for you to find out how the money you donate to a particular charity is spent. I’ve done a piece of CRUK’s spending in the past – all of the information for which was found in the CRUK Annual Review.http://pennysophia.blogspot.co.uk/2013/08/cancer-research-uk-yearly-progress.html?m=1

If you are ever unhappy and feel like research into an area of cancer isn’t being done then I would really recommend contacting the NCRI and seeing if they can point you in the right direction to reassure you. Obviously there are areas that are still underdeveloped but I am confident that this will change over time and the areas that don’t receive much funding at the moment will be reached in time. Obviously cancers that affect more people, i.e. breast and bowel do receive a lot of funding as they do affect a large amount of people.  

 

If you would like more information on the NCRI and what they do please visit their website http://www.ncri.org.uk/

 

 

Ever Considered Volunteering?

"The greatest gift you can give is your time because when you give your time you are giving a portion of your life that you will never get back"

It's no secret that volunteering for Cancer Research UK is one of my favourite aspects of my life. I meet incredible people and do incredible things on a weekly basis. I am challenged, I am inspired and I am frequently left in awe of the people I get to meet. I openly admit that if I ever won a significant amount of money I would leave full time employment and volunteer for the charity on a full time basis. 

The charity have tens of thousands of volunteers. Most of them are like me; willing to donate large portions of their spare time to the cause we believe in. My spare time is precious, I don't have a lot of it. I genuinely have to believe in something and really want to do it if I'm going to drag myself away from the sofa to do it. Whenever I meet a new volunteer and they ask for tips I always say the same thing "once you've volunteered for one thing, you'll become slightly obsessed and find yourself volunteering more and more" that is true. I started out as just an ambassador. Now I volunteer to help at events like Race for Life, I've spoken at volunteers conferences and various other things.

If you've ever considered donating some time to a cause then I can hand on heart recommend Cancer Research UK. The charity hugely appreciates their volunteers and go out of their way to make you feel informed, inspired and important. You'll meet people who will hopefully  become good friends and you'll come away feeling like you've really made a difference. 

There are many ways to volunteer:

Cancer Campaigns Ambassador - We ambassadors are a group of passionate supporters working hard to help CRUK effectively influence politicians, engage the local media in their campaigns and try to help them save lives. Our stories, experiences and passion have become one of CRUK’s most powerful campaigning tools and are vital part of their work.

As an ambassador the activities are varied and interesting:

* Communication with local politicians and parliamentary representatives; flagging up our campaign issues and persuading them to back us and take positive action on our behalf.

* Engaging with our local and regional press; securing coverage for our campaigns and raising awareness in our local area.

* Lobbying for specific cancer related campaigns.

I cannot find words big enough to describe how amazing I find my fellow ambassadors. We have formed a close group and we support, encourage and work together to make a real difference. It is a true honour to count myself as part of this inspiring group of people. If this sounds like something you might be interested in then I can promise you would be welcomed with open arms :) 

Volunteering at an event - I recently started volunteering at Race for Life and it was brilliant. The atmosphere was buzzing and the people I met were infectious in their enthusiasm. I used my experience as a secretary to man the admin tent so I was dealing with queries, making sure people had running numbers etc... But you can also volunteer as a course marshall and various other things. There is also Shine, for which I've signed up to volunteer at, as well as Relay for Life and various other events such as marathons etc... These volunteer roles are perfect if you don't fancy partaking in a sports event but would like to be part of the atmosphere and support those taking part. 

Volunteering in a shop - I'm really keen to get my grandad volunteering in one of the CRUK shops as I worry about him getting bored at home now he's retired. I've never met a CRUK shop volunteer who wasn't friendly, helpful and chatty. They are lovely people. This type of role would be perfect if you have a few hours to kill during the working day and would like to get yourself out of the house for a few hours! 

These are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the types of volunteering positions available with the charity. For more information you should take a look here: http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/support-us/volunteer/help-at-an-event

Don't just take my word for how brilliant volunteering is, some of my lovely friends and fellow volunteers have kindly allowed me to share their own thoughts and feelings on the subject with you: 

"I feel proud to be able to contribute to the work of such a high quality organisation working for such a valuable cause" - Sue Kennedy 

"I'm proud to be part of the volunteers family in CRUK, and although we all do different work, are all contributing to the same cause. ... bring cancer down." - Andy Millin

"I love volunteering as it is a pleasure knowing i helping for a great cause and meeting other people." - Karen Penn 

"it's an absolute honour to volunteer for such an amazing charity. I've got so much from the experience, including friends!" - Alice Roythorne 

"Proud to be part of CRUK and inspired by other volunteers" - Sue Duncombe 

The Lazy Girl's Guide to Exercise and Cancer

There are two words I would use to describe myself – greedy and lazy. If I could sit on the sofa eating chocolate and watching box sets of my favourite TV shows all day, I would. After a period where I was quite ill and feeling very unhealthy I have tried to force myself to like exercise. It’s handy that I’ve moved back home for a while because I’ve been able to walk my mum’s dog, Bugsy, with her and I’ve developed a routine for exercise. Amazingly I do feel a lot better and it shows in my skin, my weight and my energy levels. I also sleep very verywell now which is perfect because I developed insomnia during the recent stress.

Somehow I have allowed my friends, Andy, Gower and Clive, to persuade me to enter The London Marathon 2015. To be honest I have no idea how this happened but it is giving me something to aim for and push me to head out for exercise when I really would rather sit at home with a Chinese. I thought I’d end the week with a blog post about exercise and the importance of keeping active in honour of my new more active lifestyle :)

 

We all know that being physically active is good for your heart but research has also shown that is also reduces the risk of breast, bowel and uterine cancer. It is believed that being active helps to prevent around 3,000 cancer cases in the UK every year.

The recommended guideline is that adults should aim for about 2.5 hours of moderate activity every week, although you could be like me and break that time into more manageable chunks to fit in around a busy lifestyle.Obviously the more activity you do, the more benefits you reap. You don’t need to join a gym or anything like that if you don’t want to as quite a few everyday activities count as moderate activity. You’re aiming for anything that gets you slightly warm and out of breath so this could include:

*power walking

*gardening

*dancing

*strenuous housework

 

I work forty hours a week and my commute to and from work is around an hour each way. I also have to factor in life in general and my volunteer work so the best way for me to get my 2.5 hours of exercise is through daily activity. For example I try to take the stairs at Regents Park tube station rather then get the lift. I also get off the bus from the train station 3 stops earlier on my way home from work and walk up the hill to my mum’s house. Now the marathon is thrown into the mix I have to slowly start doing more in the way of running but I’m building my way up slowly :)

Exercise and Weight:

The world seems to be obsessed with weight. Being physically active does help you manage your weight, as long as it is combined with a relatively healthy diet. Anyone who knows me personally knows that I can happily eat my body weight in sweet stuff and still want more. As I get older I do notice the stuff I eat making its presence known on my body and the scales. Someone once told me sugar is more addictive then heroin and I actually believe that. I tried to give up sugar once and it was one of the worst weeks of my life – the headaches were horrific and I was a horrible cow to everyone coming into contact with me! There is no way I could ever diet, I’m not one for depriving myself but I am slowly learning to restrict myself and try to eat a bit better. I have been promised that I don’t have to give up cake whilst training for the marathon so that’s a silver lining :)

 

Exercise and Cancer Risk:

Scientists are developing more and more theories about how exercise and physical activity can reduce the risk of certain cancers developing. Obviously different thingsaffect different cancer types but here are a few theories:

Hormones – Exercise can lower the level of oestrogen in women. Oestrogen is a possible catalyst for some types of breast and uterine cancers so reducing oestrogen levels could also help to reduce the risk of developing these cancers. It can also reduce the amount of Insulin in our bodies and this is very important as there are somescientists that believe insulin can activate signals that get cells to multiply. As we know multiplying cells can get out of control and lead to cancer so it helps reduce the risk of certain cancer types if insulin levels are reduced.

Bowel Movements – exercise apparently helps food move through the bowels faster which reduces the amount of contact the bowel lining has with harmful chemicals, such as those found in alcohol and processed meat. This hopefully means there is less chance of them causing any damage that can lead to cancer

Bowel Inflammation – Inflammation is a way in which our bodies react when we are injured or battlinginfections. It can sometimes cause damage, especially if it keeps happening in one particular place, and it can eventually lead to cells multiplying at a more frequent rate so they can replace dead or damaged ones. Exercise can reduce bowel inflammation which should help reduce the risk of bowel cancer.

It is Never too Late!

Even if you are really inactive now, it is never too late to start exercising! Cancer Research UK have some brillianttips for how to get yourself started:

*Slowly build up your exercise time over time

*Break the 2.5 hours up into smaller chucks, possible 30mins per day during the week

*Spend less time sitting around (hard if you have an office job like mine I know!)

*Set yourself a challenge (hey you can always run the marathon!)

 

I’ll keep you guys updated on the marathon training when it actually kicks off. I have a feeling it is going to be hellish for me but rather amusing for those that know me. I do know it will be an amazing thing to accomplish and you never know, I could become one of those people that runs for fun eventually?! The marathon is the day after my birthday next year so I am planning to celebrate with a massive amount of cake at the end....if I make it to the finish line in one piece! Donations and offers of piggy back rides will be very much welcome :)

For more information on exercise and other healthy living facts please take a look at CRUK’s website

http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/cancer-info/healthyliving/

If you are thinking of looking into a challenge to motivate yourself then there are so any events you can do to raise money for CRUK, take a look at their events page http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/support-us/find-an-event

Facts about Lynch Syndrome

This blog post is dedicated to Georgia Hurst (@ShewithLynch) as she is a tireless campaigner on Twitter for those with lynch syndrome and she is constantly trying to raise awareness.

 

This is my first factual blog since my little break so I would just like to reiterate that although I spend about a week researching and writing the factual posts, I am not medically trained so please always consult a doctor if you have any worries about your health.

 

What is Lynch Syndrome?

Lynch syndrome is also known as hereditary non-polyposiscolorectal cancer (HNPCC) and is a type of inherited cancer of the digestive tract. Those diagnosed with lynch syndrome have a significantly increased risk of developing colorectal cancer s well as an increased risk of other cancers such as cancer of the uterus, stomach, breast, ovaries, pancreas, prostate, liver and kidney.

 

Lynch syndrome is a possible diagnosis in families with multiple cases of colorectal cancer and there is an increased chance of a lynch sufferer developing several cancers in their lifetime. Lynch syndrome sufferers are more likely to be diagnosed with cancer at a young age with the average age being around forty five. Their cancer is also more likely to be diagnosed on the right side of the colon.

The diagnostic criteria for lynch syndrome is called the Amsterdam Criteria. This has been modified over time so it includes the various cancers that are seen in families with lynch syndrome. The modified list is as follows:

*Three or more relatives with a lynch syndrome related cancer; one of these relatives must be a first degree relative – i.e. parent, sibling or child)

*At least two generations with cancer (i.e. parent and child)

*One or more cancer cases diagnosed when the person is aged fifty or under

*When Familial Adenomatous Polyposis (FAP) is ruled out as the cause

 

The definition of lynch syndrome is still evolving as more is discovered about it. A family could have lynch syndrome even if they do not meet the above criteria in full. A meeting with a genetics counsellor is advised if you think your family is at risk of lynch syndrome.

Causes of Lynch Syndrome

Lynch syndrome is a genetic condition which means the risk of cancer is passed from generation to generation within a family. There are several genes which have been found to be linked with lynch syndrome including MLH1, MSH2, MSH6, PMS2 and EPCAM. A mutation in any of these genes will give someone an increased risk of developing colorectal cancer in their lifetime as well as increasing their risk of developing other cancer related to lynch syndrome. Women with lynch syndrome will also have anincreased risk of uterine and ovarian cancers.

Most lynch syndrome mutations are found in the MLH1 and MSH2 genes but not all families with lynch syndrome will have mutations in the genes mentioned in the above paragraph and research is still ongoing with this subject. Changes in these genes could also occur due to increased age and there may be other causes which are not yet understood.

How is Lynch Syndrome Inherited?

Every cell normally has two copies of every gene, one which has been inherited from your mum and one from your dad. Lynch syndrome follows something called an autosomal dominant inheritance pattern which means only one of these genes needs to become mutated to give a person an increased risk of getting a particular disease. So if a parent with a gene mutation can either pass along a copy of their normal gene OR a copy of the gene with a mutation. This means a child with a parent who has a gene mutation has a 50% chance of inheriting the mutation.

Is Lynch Syndrome Common?

Colorectal cancer normally occurs by chance and has no known cause but around 3-5% of cases are though to be related to lynch syndrome.

Diagnosing Lynch Syndrome

If a family matches the Amsterdam Criteria then it can be diagnosed via a blood test which will determine if someone has a mutation in any of the genes associated with lynch syndrome.If someone is diagnosed with cancer and their family history indicates lynch syndrome then tests can be performed on the tissue or the tumour to determine if lynch syndrome is likely. These screening tests are microsatellite instability testing (MSI) and immunohistochemistry testing (IHC). These tests will show if more specific genetic testing is required. Genetic testing is normally only advised for patients with a family history that could indicate lunch syndrome as most cases of colorectal cancer are normally random and without a known cause.

 

Cancer Screening for Lynch Syndrome Sufferers:

If you are diagnosed with lynch syndrome then you shouldundergo regular screening. The screening will differ dependingon the person but normally the following will occur:

*You will have a colonoscopy every 1-2 years starting from around the age of 20-25

*Upper endoscopies periodically to check for signs of stomach or intestinal cancer

*Yearly urine cytology screening for urinary tract cancer

Women may also have:

*Yearly pelvic examinations and smear tests as well as transvaginal scans

*CA125 blood tests to check for ovarian cancer

 

These tests do differ so if always check with your doctor if you feel you should be screened for something.

 

As someone who has lost family members ot genetic mutations, I strongly urge anyone with a strong family history of cancer to seek advice from their doctor and/or a genetics counsellor to see if something such as lynch syndrome runs in your family. If your family does have a genetic mutation then it is vital you are aware of it so that you can have regular screening.

 

For more information on lynch syndrome and other types of genetic mutations please visithttp://www.cancerresearchuk.org/cancer-help/about-cancer/causes-symptoms/genes-and-inherited-cancer-risk/inherited-genes-and-cancer-risk/inherited-genes-and-specific-cancers

 

Cancer Research UK Volunteer Showcase - Nicola Stojkovic

I came across lovely Nicola on Twitter (you get to meet some lovely charity related people on Twitter!!) and quickly became chatty with her.  I’m always in awe of the exceptionally busy people who still find the time to do things for charity, they always make me feel mega lazy!

Nicola lives in Easingwold with her husband and two beautiful children. She is a brilliant fundraiser for CRUK and is a really lovely and supportive friend. She has kindly agreed to let me share her advice for wannabe volunteers and her reasons for working with CRUK.

What made you decide to volunteer for Cancer Research UK?

My Dad was 47 when he was diagnosed with Oesophageal cancer in 1997. A fit, healthy and non smoker. My Dad was lucky, the cancer was detected early and he made a full recovery. He is one of those we call a lucky one ~ a survivor. That is why I support Cancer Research UK. My hope is that one day maybe not in my lifetime but in my children's there will be a cure for cancer. I have been volunteering for CRUK since my youngest child started school in September 2008.

What sort of things do you do for the charity?

Over the last 6 years I have done a variety of things from been the secretary of the committee I'm part of to serving teas and coffees, helping to run stalls, collecting money outside Tesco, volunteering at local Race for Life events to organising big events. In 2009 I organised my first event, a children's fun day. I invited the local school's orchestra and choir to perform and a local dance school who performed too. I even managed to get a local theme park to sponsor the day! I had the usual stalls and raffle. The day was a massive success. It was after that day, that I was asked by my area manager if I would organise a Little Legs for Life event. Little Legs for Life is an event for children in essence a Race for Life for children. I have since organised two Little Legs for Life and I'm currently organising my third.

 

What are your favourite aspects of volunteering for the charity?

Probably knowing that I am making people aware of the work that Cancer Research do and where the money raised goes. People often ask me that! I have met many new people too, not just where I live but from other area's of the UK. It is always nice too, when people at events come up to you and thank you for what you do or ask if I will be doing Little Legs for Life again. Do I have any future volunteering plans? I would like to get more involved with Race for Life. I volunteered at two local events in June and loved it! I would also like to organise a black tie dinner!

 

What advice would you give to anyone considering volunteering for CRUK?

Do it! The new skills, knowledge and experience you gain will help you enhance your CV. Meeting new people is always nice. I have always been supported by my area volunteer manager. It can sometimes be hard work and at times stressful organising an event but once the day is over and you count up how much you raised you know it was worth it.

 

 

Nicola is currently getting ready to host her next Little Legs for Life event. If you live in Easingwold or the surrounding area I can highly recommend going along to this event, it is so much fun and has a lovely atmosphere!! I’m hoping to do an event with Nicola in the near future, she certainly knows her stuff and I’m honoured she allowed me to share her thoughts here today. Thanks Nic!! xxx

What a Week!!

If I needed proof that I'm out the other side and truly happy after the last few months then this last week has been it! Spending time with so many of the people I care about has been brilliant. 

Not only did I have a brilliant time with the Ambo family on Wednesday, receive my special commendation and get my MP to agree to support CRUK's early diagnosis campaign but I spent an amazing day with my friends at Race for Life Blackheath today. The atmosphere was brilliant, so many lovely ladies took part even though the weather was completely horrible first thing this morning! If you've never done Race for Life then you should definitely sign up next year girls! 

I thought I'd share some photos of the week here, maybe it will convince someone to volunteer in the future, there's nothing like it! 

Some of the messages I've received this week have been so lovely, I'm really grateful for the incredibly supportive people in my world. Thank you to everyone who has made my week so special xxx

CRUK Campaigns Ambassador Showcase - Sue Duncombe

I think everyone knows how much I value being part of the CRUK Team Ambo. The people I've got to meet through it are incredible. Many of them are my friends now and I'm hugely proud to work alongside them to do something we are all so passionate about. They inspire me and I'm frequently left in awe by each and every one of them.

Sue is a really lovely, generous and talented lady. She pushes herself and completed brilliant challenges for CRUK. She's a very deserving winner of a 2014 Flame of Hope Special Commendation and I was really honoured to be named alongside her and the others, especially as I could never cycle from London to Paris like Sue did!

Sue is about to embark on the Yorkshire 3 Peaks challenge for CRUK. She's kindly allowed me to share her story on my blog today and I'm really honoured. Have a read about this amazing lady and please sponsor her if you can at http://www.justgiving.com/Sue-Duncombe1

What made you decide to volunteer for CRUK?
My family has been significantly impacted by cancer. Mum died of cancer in 2003, dad survived both prostate and stomach cancer and my husband, Philip, was diagnosed with prostate cancer in  Jan 2005, age 52 and died in December 2009. Initial surgery in May 2005 appeared successful. However, 12 months later he was discovered to have metastases in lymph nodes. By December 2008 all licensed treatment options had been exhausted and we were desperate for him to be entered into a study of a promising new agent ,abiraterone. This drug changed our lives for 7 months. He went from being very ill at Christmas 2008 to booking flights to Cape Town in February 2009 to join some friends on a golfing holiday.  This drug was initially developed by CRUK. I feel absolutely passionate about the quality time this drug gave us and recognise the importance of patients getting access to effective treatments to  provide them and their families such quality of life. Philip was always incredibly positive during his fight against cancer and has been described as inspirational by many of our friends and contacts. I was inspired and want to make my contribution to help other cancer patients and their families.

What sort of things do you do?
I have my role as Cancer Campaigns Ambassador, which involves political lobbying. I'm really proud to be part of this Team of such motivated individuals. We can make a difference by influencing Government. In addition I participate in sponsored activities each year to raise funds. I've done Shine in Manchester and London as well as Race for Life. I get a lot of satisfaction from doing my own physical challenge each year, last year my friends and I cycled from London to Paris. It was hard work,but great fun! This year we're doing the Yorkshire 3 Peaks in 12 hours

What are your favourite aspects of volunteering for the charity?
The camaraderie of the Ambassador group is fantastic. In any of the CRUK events I've participated in there's such a great positive spirit. Everyone has the same ultimate goal - to beat cancer sooner.

Do you have any future plans for your work with CRUK?
I want to get more involved with other CRUK volunteers in my area. My Ambassador colleague, Gemma Swiers and I are involved with a CRUK pilot project in Oxford which is all about creating synergies across the various CRUK groups in the area. We're planning to raise the profile of the Ambassador group at some of the events in the area

What advice do you have for anyone considering volunteering for CRUK? 
What are you waiting for?! Like most things in life, if you put in the effort, you'll get personal satisfaction from contributing. In addition you'll meet some fun people!

Sue, congratulations on your special

commendation, it's so well deserved! It is a privilege to work alongside you and call you my friend xx