28 February 2018

Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust becomes a member of Cancer52

The Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust is delighted to become a member of Cancer52, an alliance of 90+ predominantly small patient support group cancer charities, united by the vision of seeing a better future for everyone affected by the rare and less common cancers.

​Cancer52 was founded by Professor Sir Mike Richards CBE in 2006 to provide one collaborative voice for rare and less common cancers, focusing on matters that impact on the rare and less common cancer community – defined as all cancers outside the ‘big four’ of breast, prostate, lung and bowel.

The organisation was so named because at the time 52% of cancer deaths were from rare and less common cancers. That percentage has since risen to 54%.

The Trust works with young people between the ages of 8-24. Children's cancers can be quite different from cancers affecting adults. They tend to occur in different parts of the body to adult cancers. They also look different under the microscope and respond differently to treatment. Whilst developing cancer between this age range is rare, in the UK, one in every 500 children under 15 develops a cancer. So about 1,600 children (up to the age of 15) in the UK are diagnosed with cancer each year and around 2,200 teenagers and young adults (15-24 years old) every year.

By joining forces with Cancer52 together we can help promote improved diagnosis, treatment and support for those affected by rare and less common cancers.