World Cancer Day (Tuesday 4 February) is an excellent opportunity to reflect on how we work together to help make the discoveries that will defeat cancer.

At the Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) in London, our scientists have helped make some of the most important breakthroughs in cancer research and treatment. For more than 100 years we?ve been working to better understand, diagnose and treat cancer.

Making a difference outside the lab

At the ICR, it takes researchers from biology, chemistry, physics, maths, engineering, computing, and much more, to come together and make these lifesaving and life-changing discoveries.

But you don't have to be working in the lab or the clinic to make a difference for people living with cancer. We recognise that we couldn't have made all this progress without the help of our donors and supporters.

Improving people's lives together

We are grateful to have the support of UK Finance as its Charity of the Year for 2020. UK Finance is not only supporting our research but, through its members, it is supporting people living with cancer right now.

After a cancer diagnosis, the last thing people need to worry about is money. It's great to learn how the banking and finance industry offers specialist support tailored to each person's needs - whether it means helping to manage their finances or offering practical guidance on their personal banking.

Giving people hope

We were the first organisation in the world to discover that the basic cause of cancer is damage to DNA. We?ve contributed to advances in radiotherapy - making it more targeted so it works better and with fewer side effects.

Our scientists have discovered more cancer drugs than any other academic institution in the world. including abiraterone which has been used to treat more than 400,000 men with prostate cancer around the world.

Rob is one of these men and he shared with us the difference abiraterone has made to his life:

?When I was first diagnosed, I only hoped I would survive five years. It's now been almost eight years, and I?m still here. Abiraterone has given me hope - not only have I survived, but I?ve been able to enjoy my life.?

The ICR also discovered the BRCA2 breast cancer gene, which has enabled families with a history of breast cancer to be assessed for future risk and laid the groundwork for developing new forms of therapy for BRCA-associated cancers.

Thank you for your continued support as we continue to make the discoveries that are needed for people like Rob and so many others around the world.