MORE than a million people in the UK are currently living with cancer and the percentage in the Fylde is among the worst in the country according to a recent survey.

A frightening one in four people die of the disease and one in three people will be affected at some time in their lives with cancer globally on the increase.

Leading medical personnel in the area believe the high incidences of such cancers in the Fylde as prostate and lung are due to the high profile of elderly people on the Fylde Coast and the number of heavy smokers.

They also believe cases of lymphomas and leukaemia could be linked to toxic fallout from nearby nuclear sites such as Windscale and Springfields.

In a recent Government white paper the prevention and treatment of cancer has been named as a top priority but unfortunately just one per cent of the NHS budget is spent on cancer chemotherapy drugs.

And so cancer must compete with other life-saving treatments for funding.

Driven by these bleak statistics, McMillan Cancer Relief is dedicated to providing the people of the Fylde with equal and ready access to the very latest information, treatment and care for cancer. The McMillan philosophy is to make their building special places which first and foremost enable medical and nursing staff to deliver the highest standard of care and therapies.

Providing an atmosphere of calm and safety that is supportive to patients is also a top priority with the knowledge that people with cancer experience a range of emotions including fear, worry and depression.

McMillan Windmill Appeal co-ordinator Elaine Fossett said: "It is a huge amount we need to raise but we have proved in the past we can do it and with the people of the Fylde Coast behind us we can do it again.

"We have also brought back our MRI Scanner Appeal mascot, Victor the Bear, back to the spotlight to inspire children all around the Fylde to join the Little Champions and do everything they can to help build this vital cancer unit for the community."

Although the new cancer unit at Blackpool Victoria Hospital will be taken into NHS Trust ownership McMillan will continue to be represented through its doctors and nurses who work in the building and by its name.

McMillan Cancer Relief also helps cancer sufferers with grants for those in financial difficulties and advice for patients and their families through information centres and a telephone information line.

The new unit will replace the current cancer facilities built 25 years ago at the hospital.

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