Cancer specialist speaks at Westfield’s Annual Lecture
Internationally renowned cancer specialist, Professor Karol Sikora, spoke about the future of cancer care and treatment last night, at the prestigious Westfield Health Annual Lecture entitled: ‘Cancer – A Disease of Our Time’.
The event, which was part of Sheffield Hallam University’s guest lecture programme, attracted more than 200 people - including some of the country’s leading medical experts.
Professor Sikora is considered to be one of the world’s leading authorities on cancer, having published more than 300 papers and written and edited 20 books on the illness.
He is the Medical Director of CancerPartnersUK, which is creating the largest UK cancer network as a series of joint ventures with NHS Trusts.
During his lecture, the Professor, who has worked in cancer care for nearly 34 years, spoke about how an ageing population will increase the amount of people who are diagnosed with cancer.
He told the audience that the average age for getting cancer is during your 60s, with women’s cancers typically developing ten years before men’s.
But as cancer care develops in the future, getting the disease will no longer be a death sentence.
Professor Sikora said: “Every week you read about some breakthrough for cancer, some cancer vaccine, a new drug, a new scan.
“What I’ve tried to show is that everything has a cost and the real way the future will unfold will be a complex combination of technology and how much society is willing to pay for certain benefits – and ultimately we should be able to prevent cancer.”
Aside from his work at CancerPartners UK, Professor Sikora is also the Professor of Cancer Medicine and honary Consultant Oncologist at the Imperial College School of Medicine in London, as well as Scientific Director of Medical Solutions PLC, Britain’s leading cancer diagnostic company.
He added: “When I was very young my father died of lung cancer. It was very sad, but it was a fascinating disease and I thought this is what I’d really like to do. So at a very early age, at the age of about 16…I decided what I’d like to do is to go into oncology, cancer medicine.
“In those days it was dreadful, the treatments were awful. They’ve got much, much better today and they’ll get much better over then next 30 years I’m sure, so it’s a very exciting, dynamic area to be in.”
Introducing Professor Sikora, Westfield Health Chairman Graham Moore said that it was fascinating to hear his views on the future landscape of cancer service delivery.
“As Professor Sikora discussed, the burden of cancer is increasing because of the world’s rising population, but because of new technology, the quality and length of the life of sufferers is continually being improved.
“Professor Sikora is an eminent and respected expert in Oncology, making his lecture great news – not just for Westfield and Sheffield Hallam University, but for the city too.”
Professor Rhiannon Billingsley, Pro-Vice Chancellor at Sheffield Hallam University said, "We are thrilled to be able to welcome such an eminent and respected figure to the University. Professor Sikora's insights into the future of cancer care were fascinating, and left the audience with a lot to think about."
To listen to Professor Sikora discussing the event, click here.
© Westfield Health Insurance | 2009
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