Victim challenges candidates to back cancer campaign

Nicola Jeffrey-Sykes: rallying call to prospective local MPs

A SADDLEWORTH mother who has faced cancer several times is backing an appeal from Cancer Research UK to increase awareness and improve diagnosis times.

Nicola Jeffrey-Sykes is rallying people across the region to get behind the charity’s Cross Cancer Out campaign ahead of May’s general election.

The campaign asks parliamentary candidates to back measures to improve cancer survival, including raising public awareness and ensure equal access to treatments and drugs,

Mother-of-one Nicola, a managing director at EU Health in Oldham, was diagnosed with breast cancer in September 2009.

She had a mastectomy and has since undergone other operations and treatments to handle the spred of the disease.

Nicola, who now faces chemotherapy, said: “As a cancer patient, I know first-hand we cannot underestimate the devastating impact the disease will have on families in the North-West. It’s really important that MPs listen to their constituents by putting cancer at the top of their political agenda.

“The good news is Cancer Research UK’s groundbreaking work is helping more people to survive. Half of all cancer patients diagnosed today will go on to have more tomorrows. But now more than ever it is vital that the political drive to beat cancer matches the pace of progress in research.”

Nicola is calling on people in Greater Manchester to email their election candidates and urge them to help save more lives, if elected.