Member's statement: Less Survivable Cancers Awareness Week 2026
Member's statement by Mr Stewart Dickson on .
- MLA
- Mr Stewart Dickson
- Party at the time
- Alliance Party
- Date
- 13 January 2026
- Type
- Member's statement
- Business
- Members' Statements
- Heading
- Less Survivable Cancers Awareness Week 2026
- Assembly identifier
- Official Report component 5315837
Read the official Assembly record
Text
I once again mark Less Survivable Cancers Awareness Week. I do so as chair of the all-party group on cancer and, personally, as a survivor of one of one of those less survivable cancers: oesophageal cancer. As a volunteer, I will make five new oesophageal cancer patient calls this week. This is an important opportunity to raise awareness of the six less survivable common cancers, which are lung cancer, liver cancer, brain cancer, oesophageal cancer, pancreatic cancer and stomach cancer. I invite the Assembly to note with deep concern that those cancers account for a significant proportion of cancer deaths and continue to have some of the poorest survival outcomes. We should further recognise that, despite their impact, less survivable cancers receive a disproportionately low share of cancer research funding, limiting progress on early diagnosis, treatment and, indeed, survival. I acknowledge the work of the United Kingdom Less Survivable Cancers Taskforce in representing those affected by those cancers and highlighting the urgent need to close the research gap. I recognise the importance of the high-quality cancer research undertaken across all regions of the United Kingdom, including Northern Ireland, to improve outcomes for patients and to support innovation in the health system, particularly the work of the Johnston Cancer Research Centre at Queen's University. During Less Survivable Cancers Awareness Week, it is important to highlight research activity and to engage patients, charities and researchers. Less survivable cancers receive just 19% of research funding, despite causing 40% of cancer deaths. Today, I call on the Health Minister to work with his Executive colleagues, the Department of Health and our academic institutions to ensure that cancer research funding is better targeted towards less survivable cancers and to address the long-standing inequalities in research investment to improve early diagnosis and support the development and treatment that ultimately saves lives. Finally, Mr Speaker, I congratulate you and the Assembly staff for choosing Macmillan Cancer Support as the Assembly's charity of the year.
327 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.
Assessment
Jev’s structured answers met the documented threshold for “not qualifying”.
- Overall probability that the activity is being used to promote, exploit or escalate an identity-based controversy: 0.02 (qualifying needs at least 0.70; at or below 0.30 is not qualifying).
- None of the five culture-war criteria was met (each was below 0.60).
- Assessed as legitimate policy scrutiny (0.92).
- No identity-based framing was identified (1.00).
- Subject area: Disability (including neurodivergence and mental health), disabled people and disability or sickness benefits.
- The overall probability was at or below the not-qualifying threshold.
This is an AI-generated assessment of the text, made against published criteria. It is not a finding of fact about the MLA or their intentions. The Assembly record itself is the fact.
Jev’s structured answers
| Question | Probability | Met? |
|---|---|---|
| Identity framing | 0.02 | No |
| Sectarian or communal antagonism | 0.01 | No |
| Cultural grievance politics | 0.01 | No |
| Dog-whistle messaging | 0.01 | No |
| Controversy escalation | 0.02 | No |
| Legitimate policy scrutiny | 0.92 | Yes |
| Overall judgement | 0.02 | At or below not-qualifying threshold |
| Option | Probability |
|---|---|
| No identity-based framing (chosen) | 1.00 |
| Reports or questions it | 0.00 |
| Criticises or condemns it | 0.00 |
| Adopts it | 0.00 |
| Subject | Probability |
|---|---|
| Disability (including neurodivergence and mental health), disabled people and disability or sickness benefits | 0.74 |
| No identity-related subject | 0.22 |
| Another identity-related subject | 0.04 |
| Flags, emblems, symbols, names and memorials | 0.00 |
| Parades, bonfires and commemorations | 0.00 |
Assessed 21 October 2026 at 14:12 UTC by jev-1.13.0 (requested as typesafe/jev) under rubric 2026.10-r9, methodology 1.9.
Disagree with this assessment?
Classifications can be challenged. A person reviews every challenge, and any change is recorded publicly above with its reason.