The
Michael Blake Foundation was founded in April 2008 in honour of
Michael Blake 14.02.52 – 15.02.08 who sadly lost his battle with
Oesophageal Cancer after a long illness.
Regrettably
oesophageal cancer is on the increase in the United Kingdom;
particularly amongst middle-aged men and unfortunately the mortality
rate is high due to the following reasons:
- Often when it is discovered, secondary cancer is already established;
- Although contemporary treatments
are improving all the time, survival rates are still poor.
Like many other Cancers the impact is devastating to its victims and their loved ones, who have to learn how to cope with the devastating effects.
In 2005 Oesophageal Cancer was
the ninth most common cancer in the UK and the male/female ratio
reported is much higher, generally around 5 to 10-fold, which makes
it one of the highest sex differentials of any non-occupational
cancer.
The risk of developing the disease increases with
age with very few cases diagnosed in people aged under 40 years.
In 2006 Oesophageal cancer was responsible for around 5% of all
cancer deaths, making it the fifth most common cause of cancer death
overall, the fourth in men and the sixth in women.