This annual report highlights some of CancerBACUP’s key activities during 2000/2001; a year in which much effort has gone into improving access to information and support for people affected by cancer.

The most significant development during the year was the opening of five new local ‘drop-in’ centres around the country. These give patients another way of gaining the information and support they need from CancerBACUP’s specialist cancer information nurses.

Eight local centres dealt with over 9,000 enquiries during the year, complementing the 45,000 calls answered by the helpline nurses.

Demand for our services continues to outstrip our resources. Ambitious plans to meet the need include opening a second telephone nursing centre in Glasgow, which will share the load with the existing London centre.

Our advocacy programme achieved notable successes during the year, in helping to ensure effective new treatments are available to all those patients who might benefit from them. This work continues.

None of this would be possible without the joint development of projects and support from our partners, including the Department of Health; politicians through the All-Party Group on Cancer; major companies and trusts. We also value highly the enterprise of many thousands of supporters, who undertook all sorts of activities to raise money and support the charity’s aims.

I hope that you too will be encouraged to support this vital work, which each year helps many thousands of people affected by cancer.