Figures from the National Cancer Research Institute (NCRI) have revealed that the total spend amongst major UK charities for research into primary bone cancer in 2020-21 was £168,316 – just 0.027% of the £630m total research investment for this period.
NCRI members include some of the UK’s largest cancer charities such as Cancer Research UK, Macmillan Cancer Support, Marie Curie and 19 other leading organisations.
While the NCRI partners’ most recent spend is a slight improvement on the previous year's spending of £135,512, the Bone Cancer Research Trust alone invested £1,490,936 into research for primary bone cancer in 2021. This means that our research investment was almost 9x higher than that of the leading UK cancer charities combined.
Due to a lack of investment in research to develop kinder and more effective treatment options for bone cancer patients, there has been little improvement to survival rates for over 30 years. Around 560 people are diagnosed with primary bone cancer in the UK every year. Current overall 5-year survival rates are little over 50%, however, this is not consistent across all forms of primary bone cancer and patient age groups.
Through continued investment, increases in survival for more common cancers, such as breast cancer, have continued to rise in recent years. This is why investment in research is one of the most important, life-saving measures we can take against primary bone cancer.
Dr Zoe Davison, Head of Research, Information & Support at the Bone Cancer Research Trust, said:
Every day another person dies from primary bone cancer in the UK, and it is only through investment in research that we will see an improvement in survival rates against this cruel and unforgiving disease. We are committed to taking a more coordinated approach to addressing this issue through collaboration with NCRI partners to increase research investment into primary bone cancer. We hope that this approach will propel desperately needed research to develop kinder and more effective treatment options for patients, ultimately saving more lives.
Mat Cottle-Shaw, CEO of the Bone Cancer Research Trust, said:
Whilst we are disappointed by the research figures from the NCRI organisations, we are proud of our contribution to furthering research, which could not be possible without the help of the inspirational bone cancer community. It is through their donations, fundraising and continued support that we are able to set an example for other charities to appropriately invest in this hugely underfunded form of cancer.
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