Radiotherapy UK would like to thank everyone who attended our #CatchUpWithCancer campaign event in Parliament last week. More than 40 Parliamentarians came along to express support for UK cancer patients facing anxious waits for treatment, and to sign a letter to Wes Streeting, urging the Health Secretary to address the ongoing cancer crisis.
The #CatchUpWithCancer campaign was founded in 2020 by Professor Pat Price, and the Russell family, after their daughter Kelly Smith had her cancer treatment paused because of the pandemic. Kelly died at the age of 31, just a few weeks later.
Since then, the campaign has gathered more than half a million signatures, calling for the government to end waits caused by a growing number of cases, not enough staff or equipment and other barriers.
Radiotherapy can help, if the government embraces this modern treatment in its cancer plan, out later this year.
- radiotherapy is cost-effective (4k to 7k per treatment)
- modern techniques and AI can speed up treatments and improve patient outcomes
- access across the UK is varied: some patients face a three-hour round trip for each treatment, and even a ferry ride, because of the lack of satellite centres
At present, radiotherapy is needed by more than half of all UK cancer patients, yet only around 36% receive it.
Event photo gallery: July 2025
Photos by Liberal Media. Event attendees are welcome to use these images: please tag Radiotherapy UK.
VIDEO: Catching up with cancer
Learn more about #CatchUpWithCancer campaign and hear from Co-founder Craig Russell, and Tim Farron MP, Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Radiotherapy.