New Chair for Lung Cancer Coalition
Today (2nd April 2024), Dr David Gilligan, consultant clinical oncologist at Cambridge University Hospitals and Royal Papworth Hospitals, has been appointed chair of the UK Lung Cancer Coalition (UKLCC), the UK’s largest multi-interest group in lung cancer.
Dr Gilligan takes over from Professor Mick Peake OBE, the current chair and founder of the UKLCC, and will be supported by Professor Robert Rintoul who heads up the Coalition’s clinical advisory group.
Commenting on his appointment, Dr Gilligan, says: “I very much look forward to being at the helm of such a well-respected organisation which has played a key role in driving improvements in lung cancer care for nearly 20 years.”
In addition to his full-time clinical role, Dr Gilligan will continue to sit on the Lung Cancer Clinical Expert Group (CEG) and act as senior medical editor for Macmillan Cancer Information. Until recently, he was a trustee and chair of the grants committee of the Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation. He has been a member of British Thoracic Oncology Group (BTOG) Steering Committee Since May 2017.
Despite real advances in service provision in some parts of the country, and curative treatment rates steadily improving over the last 20 years, lung cancer remains the UK’s biggest cancer killer.1 There are still huge variations in care and outcomes and UK and survival rates compare poorly with many other countries.
“Under my watch, the UKLCC will continue to focus on reducing inequalities and driving-up lung cancer standards across the four UK nations. It’s imperative that lung cancer patients have access to optimal care and treatment whoever they are and wherever they live.”
Dr Gilligan will take up his new role with immediate effect.
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Note to editors:
About the UKLCC
The UK Lung Cancer Coalition (UKLCC) was officially launched in 2005 with the founding ambition of tackling poor lung cancer survival outcomes and, specifically, to double five-year survival by 2015, which was effectively achieved. It is now looking to redouble five-year survival to 25 percent by the end of 2025. The UKLCC’s membership includes leading clinicians, clinical nurse specialists, senior NHS professionals, charities, and healthcare companies with an interest in fighting lung cancer. For more information about our work and members, visit: www.uklcc.org.uk
About lung cancer
Lung cancer is the UK’s biggest cancer killer with nearly 35,000 people dying each year. It accounts for more than a fifth of all UK cancer deaths (21%)1- and lung cancer in never smokers is the eighth most common cause of cancer-related death in the UK.2 Five-year relative survival for lung cancer in the UK is generally lags behind the European average3 - and over one-third (35%) of people with lung cancer are diagnosed by emergency admission to hospital in England.,4 However, it can be cured if diagnosed early enough.
References:
- Lung Cancer Statistics, Cancer Research UK. Accessed March 2024 at: https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/health-professional/cancer-statistics/statistics-by-cancer-type/lung-cancer#heading-One
- Bhopal A, Peake M, Gilligan D and Cosford P. Lung Cancer in never smokers: a hidden disease. Bhopal A, Peake M, Gilligan D and Cosford P. Accessed March 2024 at: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/0141076819843654
- De Angelis R, Sant M, Coleman M et al. Cancer survival in Europe 1999–2007 by country and age: results of EUROCARE-5—a population-based study. Lancet Oncology 2014; 15 (1) 23–34.
- National Lung Cancer Audit 2023. Accessed March 2024 at: https://www.lungcanceraudit.org.uk/content/uploads/2023/04/NLCA-State-of-the-Nation-2023-Version-2-amended-July-2023.pdf page 9 Accessed March 2024
For further information, please contact:
Lynsey Conway
UKLCC External Affairs
07778 304233
email@lynseyconway.co.uk