An extended smoking ban: could it herald a new dawn in cancer prevention?
The announcement that the new government is considering extending the smoking ban is welcome news, but could it signal a much stronger focus on tackling preventable cancers – one that would have the support across the country and Parliament? It appears the government is considering a major extension to the indoor smoking ban, first introduced… Read More >
The Importance of being SunSmart
There has been a lot of coverage in the press about skin cancer just recently. Bearing in mind, it is August and the long awaited (and no doubt) fleeting British summer has arrived, accessing the great outdoors and enjoying the sun may well be on many people’s minds. However, all is not well in the great British… Read More >
Ultra-processed foods: why the fuss and what’s the answer?
UPFs: what are we talking about? The term ‘ultra-processed foods’ (UPFs) arises from the NOVA food classification system. This distinguishes between unprocessed foods (i.e. wholefoods); processed culinary ingredients (e.g. salt, butter); processed foods (e.g. fresh bread, tinned vegetables, cheese, cured meats); and ultra-processed foods. Commonly consumed UPFs include mass-produced bread, microwave meals, sandwich ham, and… Read More >
A Cancer Prevention Manifesto for 2024
About CancerWatch CancerWatch is a charity made up of people whose lives have been affected by cancer, and who are passionate about eliminating preventable cancers in the future. We campaign for more effective action to prevent cancer. We believe that currently too little is being done to tackle preventable cancers at their source. Cancer prevention:… Read More >
Sector Review – Punching Below Our Weight – Cancer Prevention
To commemorate World Cancer Day 4th February 2024, we are publishing our latest report “Punching Below Our Weight: A Review of the Cancer Charity Sector’s Attitudes to Cancer Prevention”, in which we review almost 50 organisations in the cancer charity sector for their attitudes to cancer prevention. Although a widespread commitment to prevention exists among… Read More >
What do cancer charities think about prevention?
CancerWatch exists to campaign for improved cancer prevention, and we will take a major step forward when we achieve registration as a charity this year. From there, we will aim to build up our campaigning activity. But what should that new activity look like? What work can we do that will not replicate what other… Read More >
State of play: screening
Throughout this Cancer Prevention Action Week, we are reviewing the current state of public policy for the major risk factors in causing preventable cancers. CancerWatch’s mission is to secure a reduction and ultimately the elimination of preventable cancers. Very technically, screening might seem to sit outside the scope of this work: if a screening programme… Read More >
State of play: alcohol
Throughout this Cancer Prevention Action Week, we are reviewing the current state of public policy for the major risk factors in causing preventable cancers. Like poor diet and smoking, alcohol can cause many illnesses. The most widely recognised are probably liver disease and the life-disrupting effects of alcohol addiction, but the causal link to cancer… Read More >
State of play: diet and food
Throughout this Cancer Prevention Action Week, we are reviewing the current state of public policy for the major risk factors in causing preventable cancers. There is a clear link between obesity and numerous cancers – 13, according to Cancer Research UK. This link is both statistically clear, and increasingly well understood in biomedical terms: fat… Read More >
State of play: smoking
Throughout this Cancer Prevention Action Week, we are reviewing the current state of public policy for the major risk factors in causing preventable cancers. Tobacco use is the area where historically there has been the strongest policy action to prevent harm. Much of the progress in extending life expectancy over the later part of the… Read More >