I was interested to read Nay Wynns What if: We found a cure for cancer? (bit.ly/ActuaryCureCancer) in the Jan/Feb issue of The Actuary.
I was interested to read Nay Wynn's What if: We found a cure for cancer? (bit.ly/ActuaryCureCancer) in the Jan/Feb issue of The Actuary.
The highly informative article noted that there are over 200 types of recorded cancers and certain types attract more investment.
It posed the question: "As cancer is caused by abnormal cells multiplying out of control, can we find a cure that tackles this issue directly?"
Cancer Research UK (CRUK) is the only UK charity researching into all 200 types and spends a significant chunk of its funds on the basic biology of cancer. This approach should lead to developments that will benefit treatment across a number of types of cancer and potentially also rare cancers. Increasingly, cancer will be less about the original site of the tumour and more about its genetic profile.
We should ask ourselves: "What if I could help to find a cure for cancer?" I believe we need to look more broadly; from the micro-economic effect on the patient and their need for critical illness cover, to the macro-economic effect on the nation.
Individually, we can use and develop our actuarial skills in the political arena. CRUK is currently seeking more Cancer Campaigns Ambassadors. These volunteers give one to five days a year to influence their MP (and other politicians in the devolved nations). The time is mainly the odd hour here and there emailing or meeting your MP. Your communication skills and persuasiveness will improve and there are opportunities to develop your public speaking too. So the opportunity could be of interest to students, actuaries and the retired.
As the lifetime incidence is rising to one in two of the UK population, we cannot ignore the financial impact of cancer and need to act. For further information, go to: www.cruk.org.uk/ambassadors
Suzanne Spencer
16 March 2017
