EVERY year, 400 people across Cheshire and Merseyside are told they have pancreatic cancer and are suddenly faced with terrifyingly low survival statistics that haven't changed in 50 years.

Currently, the disease has the lowest survival of other common cancer such as prostate, breast or bowel cancer with 93 per cent of people die within five years of diagnosis.

Other cancers have seen huge improvement in survival which is proof that Government action, research funding and public awareness can save lives.

This Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month, our charity has launched a new campaign to open the public's eyes to pancreatic cancer and call on the next Government to create the first dedicated national plan to address this cancer emergency.

I urge your readers to show their support for Pancreatic Cancer UK’s campaign by signing our petition and helping us transform the future for everyone diagnosed with this awful disease.

Please take a stand with us by visiting: www.demandsurvivalnow.org.uk

If you are affected by pancreatic cancer and need support please visit www.pancreaticcancer.org.uk/information-and-support or you can contact the pancreatic cancer UK support line and speak to any of our specialist nurses, freecall: 0808 801 0707

Dianne Dobson, Pancreatic Cancer UK specialist nurse.