Meeting of the Parliament (Hybrid) 01 February 2022
I thank Jackie Baillie and I am grateful that we are debating her motion commemorating world cancer day on Friday. Like all members, I hope and pray for a day when humankind will find a way to defeat cancer in all its types.
Cancer is probably still one of the most dreaded words in the English language. I do not know how it feels to be told about a diagnosis of any type of cancer—at least, not yet—but I have sat beside the person whom I love most in the whole world as she was told that she had cancer. As I looked into her face, I felt more hopeless and useless than I had ever felt in my life—or have felt since. The moment is frozen in time for me. I did not know what to say or what to do. We held hands and we both trembled—but help came. The consultant and everyone at the Beatson provided much-needed medical treatment and, more especially, they freely dispensed hope laced with gentle kindness.
An effective cancer screening programme, with speedy call-back and diagnosis, makes all the difference. Colleagues have spoken about that eloquently tonight, with an expertise that I cannot muster. I simply echo everything that has been said in the debate. I urge everyone who receives a call to take part in the cancer screening programme to take up that invitation—please go.
I hope that the cabinet secretary is moving heaven and earth to ensure that all the cancer screening programmes in Scotland are quickly back to full strength. I hope that people who missed out due to the coronavirus restrictions get screened, get the diagnosis and, most importantly, get the treatment that they need—and quickly.
World cancer day is a day when we, collectively as parliamentarians and the elected representatives of the people of Scotland, should redouble our efforts to ensure that screening takes place and that diagnosis is made as early as possible. It is literally a matter of life and death.