29 June 2011

'Together We Will Beat Cancer' - public event, 30th June

The world-class work taking place in Dundee on research into the prevention, early detection and possible future treatment of bowel cancer will be highlighted at a public event tomorrow night (Thursday June 30th).

'Together We Will Beat Cancer' is an event hosted by Dundee Cancer Centre, which is helping set the pace for national and international progress particularly in bowel, breast and skin cancer.

Leading researchers, clinical staff and a patient will speak at the event, which takes place in the West Park Centre, Perth Road, from 5.30pm to 8pm. The event is free and all are welcome to attend.

'A key role of the Dundee Cancer Centre is to inform people about the internationally renowned research that is being carried out here in Dundee,' said Alison Harrow, Cancer Research UK Senior Research Nurse.

'With this event we will be highlighting some of the research being carried out in the field of bowel cancer. Invited clinical and research experts will show how science has given us a greater understanding of cancer, in turn enabling us to help reduce the burden of cancer. We are focussing on the prevention and early detection of cancer and will discuss how this can reduce the incidence and number of deaths caused by bowel cancer.

'A bowel cancer specialist nurse and a patient who has been treated for bowel cancer will provide an overview of their clinical experiences and insights into local care regimens. They will help to show how important it is that both research and clinical expertise are combined to determine the way that patients with bowel cancer are treated and cared for.'

Speakers at the event include:

• Welcome & introduction to the Dundee Cancer Centre - Professor Inke Näthke
• What is cancer? - Professor Ron Hay
• Healthy lifestyles: BeWEL study, colorectal cancer - Professor Annie Anderson
• Early diagnosis: CR-UK message on early diagnosis - Dr Alison Harrow
• Early diagnosis: Colorectal screening - Professor Bob Steele
• Future advances - Professor Colin Palmer

Ms Jackie Rodger, colorectal clinical nurse specialist, will also speak, as will a colorectal cancer survivor.

The Dundee Cancer Centre is one of a network of 15 centres across the UK that bring together world class laboratory research with medical expertise to provide the best possible results for cancer patients nationwide. The Centre is a partnership between Cancer Research UK, the University of Dundee and NHS Tayside.

Notes to Editors:

About the Dundee Cancer Centre

• The Dundee Cancer Centre is a partnership between Cancer Research UK, the University of Dundee and NHS Tayside, which will translate state-of-the-art cancer research into improved public health and better outcomes for patients in Tayside and North East Fife.
• Researchers at the Dundee Cancer Centre focus on developing new ways to treat, diagnose, and prevent cancer - particularly bowel, breast and skin cancers.
• Work at the Dundee Cancer Centre will build on Dundee's world class research in life sciences, radiotherapy, surgery and new highly advanced image-guided surgical techniques.
• Through an established Clinical Research Centre network in Dundee, and the excellent standard of care offered through NHS Tayside, the Dundee Cancer Centre will ensure people across the area have the opportunity to benefit from the latest treatments.
• The Tayside Tissue Bank (www.tissuebank.dundee.ac.uk), which manages the collection, storage and research use of tissue from a wide variety of cancers, is an integral part of the Dundee Cancer Centre and acts as a key link between bench and bedside.

For media enquiries contact:
Roddy Isles
Head, Press Office
University of Dundee
Nethergate, Dundee, DD1 4HN
TEL: 01382 384910
E-MAIL: r.isles@dundee.ac.uk
MOBILE: 07800 581902