We were delighted to be joined for the evening by Dr Hayley Farmer, research scientist for Cancer Research UK and cancer survivor. She gave the members a very detailed outline of the three stages of clinical trials and her particular role in this very worthwhile work. Hayley set out the programme for bringing new drugs into being and the enormous percentage of research that falls by the wayside. We now understand why it can take 20 years for a new treatment to be approved and made available and why it may take 10 years after clinical trials have proved it effective for a new drug to be made part of the tool-kit. Interestingly, a lot of research now goes into combatting side-effects as people are living much longer but only with long term use of drugs that present their own problems.

Mary Ryan and Tom Bourton of the Cancer Research UK Patient Liaison Team went on to explain how they develop relationships with both those who have an experience of cancer and also the many media opportunities. With the help of volunteers and Cancer Voices news stories, both personal and technical, are brought into the open to publicise the work of the charity and also people's own achievements. With many anecdotes and a very professional presentation members were able to appreciate and understand the work of the charity and the incredible steps that have been, and are being, taken to combat this terrible illness.

Unfortunately members were a little light on the ground but those of us that were there enjoyed the evening so much we persuaded the CR-UK team to come back again in a few months. We might have to wait as Dr Farmer is climbing Mount Kilamanjaro in the autumn to raise funds for Cancer Research UK and help to pay for her own research.