Shocking facts about the impact of cancer on local people have been highlighted by Ashton-under-Lyne MP Angela Rayner.

She is now calling for people to consider ‘lifestyle changes’ to reduce the number of cases every year.

• Around 680 local people die from cancer in Tameside, with another 1400 cases diagnosed every year.
• One in three children in Year 6 in Tameside are overweight or obese – the single biggest cause of cancer in the UK
• Two thirds of adults are obese or overweight in Tameside
• More than one in 5 people in Tameside smoke – higher than the national average.
• Smoking causes nearly a fifth of all cancer cases – there are 420 cases in Tameside

Angela said that more than four in ten cancer cases could be prevented each year, with smoking and obesity the biggest avoidable causes of the disease.

The MP said: “We’ve come such a long way in the fight against cancer, it’s shocking to hear that so many cases in my constituency could be prevented.

“The shocking numbers make it clear we need to act now to help people make positive lifestyle changes, such as becoming more active and maintaining a healthy weight.

“While there are no guarantees against the disease, I want to do everything I can to help my constituents, and their families stack the odds in their own favour and lead long and healthy lives.”

Angela attended a Cancer Research UK event in Westminster to learn more about how lifestyle changes can reduce people’s risk of getting cancer.

The MP met with campaigners and nurses from the charity’s Cancer Awareness Roadshow, to find out more about their work on cancer prevention.

While the dangers of smoking are well known, many people are unaware of the link between obesity and cancer, although 61% of people in the North West are currently overweight or obese.

The Westminster event coincided with the launch of Cancer Research UK’s new ‘Junk Free TV’ campaign, which aims to help address children’s obesity.

It calls for the removal of junk food adverts on TV before the 9pm watershed, to help reduce the impact of this negative influence over children’s food choices.

Alison Cox, Director of Cancer Prevention at Cancer Research UK, said: “It’s great to have Angela’s support with raising awareness of how people can reduce their risk of cancer.

“There are a lot of things working against us when it comes to making healthier choices. We’re all bombarded by advertising of junk foods packed with extra calories and this leads kids to pester their parents to buy unhealthy food for them.

“That’s why we’re calling on Government to introduce a number of measures to protect the health of the nation’s children, including removing junk food advertising on TV before the 9pm watershed.

“Obese children are more likely to be obese as adults, so it’s vital that young people are encouraged to eat healthily and keep active and that healthy choices are easy to make.”

To support the Junk Free TV campaign, visit cruk.org/junkfreetv.