Hello everyone, I hope this update finds you safe and well.

It has been some time since I have posted and update, it’s a rubbish excuse but life has been hectic.

That said through the petition updates, shares, signatures, radio and TV appearances we have managed to gather the details of 9 families that have had almost identical experiences to that of Gemma.

So this morning, on behalf of all the families I emailed the Science and Technology Committee, Petitions Committee and The Health and Social Care Committee to ask for their support in persuading the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care to collaboratively conduct an urgent review in to the process and NICE guidelines relating to cancer patients being given the ‘No evidence of Active disease’ verdict and the guidelines for the frequency and coverage of surveillance scans.

We have targeted the sub committees as the responses from the previous secretary of state for health and social care were dismissive, unhelpful and ‘circular’ in their references.

How can you help?

You could email your MP to make them aware of the requests that have gone in and ask them to follow up on them. Really easy 2 minute job but would be so helpful to continue to highlight the need for this and that the cause hasn’t disappeared.

If you are an individual or family (or know of one) that have been in the same situation as Gemma (that have had a secondary cancer missed as a result of less comprehensive checks being carried out before a no evidence of active disease verdict was given) … please consider getting in touch to help drive this important piece of work forward.

 You can email me on changeforgemma@hotmail.com

Finally, please keep talking about the petition, its message and sharing the link for signatures. Whilst progressing policy change is hard going, the message of Gemma’s and the other family’s experiences could help save a life.

Take good care of yourself and each other and I will be in touch soon. Big squeeze… DCB