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  • Policy & Insight

That Cancer Conversation podcast – Longer, better lives: Ep.1 What is Cancer Research UK’s manifesto?

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by Cancer Research UK | Podcast

29 January 2024

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That Cancer Conversation in a white speech bubble with a dark blue background
Shaun Walsh in front of a microphone with the manifesto
Shaun Walsh with the manifesto

Welcome to another episode of That Cancer Conversation! We’re launching a new subseries which unpacks our recently published manifesto, Longer, Better Lives: A Manifesto for Cancer Research and Care.  

At Cancer Research UK, we know that huge strides have been made in beating cancer – with survival in the UK doubling over the last 50 years.   

But this hard-won progress is at risk of stalling.  

The cancer crisis is urgent. Every day, people affected by cancer face anxious waits for tests and treatment, reflected in month after month of missed cancer waiting time targets. And for UK cancer research, we’ve identified a funding gap of more than £1bn in the next decade, putting our world leading research at risk. 

That’s why, in late 2023 we embarked on an ambitious policy development programme, giving a voice to the millions of patients and thousands of researchers who are demanding for real progress in cancer research and care in the UK.   

And so, Longer, better lives was born.   

Follow Sophie over the next five episodes as she uncovers the missions behind this manifesto and why we need it now more than ever.

In this first episode, Sophie speaks to Shaun Walsh, Head of public affairs and campaigns at Cancer Research UK. Shaun has followed the manifesto’s journey, from conception to its launch in November, and explains what it is and why Cancer Research UK has created it. 

To join us in telling party leaders to back our calls for longer, better lives, you can sign our open letter.