As we collectively observed World Cancer Day yesterday, I am sure I was not alone in being reminded of the critical importance of timely and accurate cancer diagnosis, especially for young adults. This year’s theme, "United by Action", emphasises the need to place individuals at the centre of cancer care, recognising that each person’s journey is unique and deserves personalised attention.

In the media, we see headlines announcing that the NHS is set to launch the world’s largest trial of artificial intelligence (AI) for breast cancer diagnosis, involving around 700,000 mammograms in England. This trial aims to assess AI’s effectiveness in detecting breast cancer, potentially expediting diagnosis and reducing pressure on radiologists.

Additionally, a study by the Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust and the Institute of Cancer Research has explored the use of AI in grading the aggressiveness of sarcoma—a type of cancer that develops in the body’s connective tissues. The research suggests that AI could diagnose cancer with twice the accuracy of traditional biopsy methods, offering hope for more precise and less invasive diagnostic procedures.

These advancements in AI technology hold significant promise for improving cancer detection and treatment. However, they also highlight the urgent need for systemic changes in healthcare, particularly for young adults who may not fit traditional risk profiles.

I always believed my children would benefit from these new technologies and initiatives, assuming that by the time they required medical support and intervention, advancements in medicine would provide them with life-saving diagnoses, treatments, and surgery. But this was not to be. It was assumed that Jess was too young for cancer. Her diagnosis was delayed, and she died at 27 with no opportunity for treatment.

Jess’s Law—calling for a patient’s case to be elevated for review after their third contact with a GP surgery about the same condition or symptom—remains fundamentally important. It is something that can and should be implemented now. 

By combining Jess’s Law with the latest AI advancements, we can work towards a healthcare system that is both innovative and responsive to the unique needs of everyone, including young adults.

I am incredibly grateful for your continued support and urge you to share this petition within your networks. Together, we can drive the change needed to prevent unnecessary losses and improve cancer outcomes for all.

Thank you so much.

Andrea (Jess’s Mum)