Son calls on next Government to commit to pancreatic cancer research in dad’s memory

A man who lost his dad to pancreatic cancer just six months after diagnosis is calling on the next Government to prioritise the disease, which is projected to kill 50,000 people by 2027.

Lewis Rogers, 39, of Broughton Street, Wandsworth, yesterday delivered a petition signed by 63,505 people to 10 Downing Street and the headquarters of all major political parties, calling on whoever forms the next Government to commit to investing in more research into the fatal illness.

After Mr Rogers’ father, Jeff Rogers, died in 2019, aged 59, the business management consultant partnered up with the charity Pancreatic Cancer UK to create the campaign, Demand Survival Now, and launched the petition.

Mr Rogers said: “I am blown away by the number of people who have added their name to this campaign.

“Dad was an engineer his whole life and loved fixing things. If he was here today, he would say ‘I know we can fix this’.”

By 2027, pancreatic cancer is projected to kill more people annually than breast cancer, becoming the fourth biggest cause of cancer-related death in the UK , according to Pancreatic Cancer UK.

While the average five-year survival rate for the 20 most common cancers is 52.5 per cent, less than seven per cent of people with pancreatic cancer live for five years after their diagnosis.

He  said: “It’s really difficult to spot signs and symptoms. Dad had a tummy ache and back pain and initially the doctors thought it might be diabetes or gallstones. After nine weeks of tests they found out it was cancer.

“We were very lucky to have had dad for those six months.”

Currently just three per cent of annual UK research spending on cancer is invested in pancreatic cancer, according to Pancreatic Cancer UK.

For five-year pancreatic cancer survival, the UK ranks 15th out of 16 European countries with comparable data – below France, Ireland and Latvia.

Mr Rogers said: “It’s very easy to feel like you’ve been robbed of precious memories. I remember so clearly saying goodbye to him for the last time. He was so weak at that point, so he was asleep. I said goodbye, walked out the room and burst into tears.”

Mr Rogers said the upcoming General Election in July as a “unique opportunity” for party leaders to pledge their support to help beat the deadly disease by investing in research to help deliver earlier diagnosis and provide faster treatment.

He said: “I’m very hopeful that we can improve the future for pancreatic cancer patients, so people don’t have to suffer like my dad did. 

“But we need more than just hope. The Government has invested a lot of money into beating breast cancer and prostate cancer, and it has worked really.

“I’m confident they can do the same for pancreatic cancer.”

Pancreatic Cancer UK is urging the major political parties to commit to investing at least £35million a year into pancreatic cancer research in their manifestos.

The Department of Health and Social Care declined to comment ahead of the election.

Pictured top: Lewis Rogers hands outside 10 Downing Street yesterday (Picture: Pancreatic UK)