Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Reposted by Melissa

Alcohol Focus Scotland @alcoholfocus.bsky.social · 6d

October is #BreastCancerAwarenessMonth

1 in 2 Scots don't know that alcohol causes cancer.

Alcohol companies would prefer to keep you in the dark about the link between alcohol and cancer. 🤫

Find out more about alcohol and cancer on our website⬇️

www.alcohol-focus-scotland.org.uk/information-...

2 3

Melissa @melissadando.bsky.social · 7d

Thank you to @drscottarthurmp.bsky.social for meeting @wcrf.org at #LabourConference to talk about our work on cancer prevention, particularly as it relates to alcohol.

We were also pleased to discuss the Rare Cancers Bill, which aims to drive research & investment into treatments for rare cancers.

1

Melissa @melissadando.bsky.social · 9d

Was a pleasure to attend a great session by the @instituteforgovernment.org.uk at #LabourConference this morning.

@alexmclabour.bsky.social spoke powerfully about the need to shift from sickness to prevention, sharing his own experience of developing type 2 diabetes from preventable causes.

1

Melissa @melissadando.bsky.social · 9d

It was also noted that the @resfoundation.bsky.social is calling on the Government to introduce a Salt and Sugar Reformulation Tax in the upcoming budget.

This echoes growing calls for similar measures to build on the success of the Soft Drinks Industry Levy🥤

1

Melissa @melissadando.bsky.social · 9d

During the Q&A, an NHS psychiatrist supporting those with long-term conditions returning to work, was applauded for remarking that solving obesity would see many health problems virtually disappear overnight - ultimately leading to a much healthier workforce. 👏

1 2

Melissa @melissadando.bsky.social · 9d

Yesterday @healthfoundation.bsky.social and @resfoundation.bsky.social hosted a fringe at #LPC25 on tackling health-related inactivity where @skinnock.bsky.social emphasised that the health and wealth of the nation are two sides of the same coin.

1 1

Melissa @melissadando.bsky.social · 10d

Arrived in a very sunny Liverpool today for #LabourConference ☀️

First stop was the @healthequals.bsky.social stand, which showcases their new #MakeHealthEqual campaign -highlighting that in the UK lives are being cut short by up to 16 years.

Go visit them at stand H3!

2

Melissa @melissadando.bsky.social · 23d

A very exciting opportunity to join our team at @wcrf.org!

Kate Oldridge-Turner @kateot.bsky.social · 24d

🚨 We’re hiring! 🚨

@wcrf.org is looking for a Senior Policy Research Manager to lead global policy research on diet, physical activity & alcohol.

⏳ Apply by 5 Oct | £45–47k | Hybrid London
👉 www.wcrf.org/wp-content/u...

#Hiring #Policy #PublicHealth #cancerprevention

a purple background with the words we 're hiring

ALT: a purple background with the words we 're hiring

media.tenor.com

Reposted by Melissa

World Cancer Research Fund @wcrf.org · 26d

Recent opinion piece in The Guardian highlights that in order to tackle rising levels of alcohol and diet-related diseases and ease pressure on the NHS, regulatory measures such as a minimum unit price for alcohol must be adopted.

www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

The Guardian view on public health: if Labour is serious about reducing illness, it must focus on causes | Editorial

Editorial: A shift to prevention will only succeed if ministers take a bold approach to regulation and lift people out of poverty

www.theguardian.com

1 1 1

Reposted by Melissa

Children's Food Campaign @childrensfood.bsky.social · Sep 9

In 12 months, an extra 620,000 children in England will become eligible for #freeschoolmeals. Wales, Scotland and London are already feeding more children than ever.

But what if expansion of school food could also deliver for UK farmers and producers? ⬇️🥕 bit.ly/4nroz7j

School meal expansion could deliver £600 million boost for British farmers | Sustain

Food and farming organisations are calling on government to ensure school meal expansion benefits local, sustainable and British farming as well as children's health.

bit.ly

3 1 7

Reposted by Melissa

Alcohol Health Alliance UK @aha-uk.bsky.social · Sep 5

📢 New review from Public Health Scotland: alcohol marketing drives consumption.

The evidence is clear — restricting marketing can reduce alcohol harm and improve health.

We'll continue to push #DCMS to improve marketing regs to protect our health.

🔍 publichealthscotland.scot/media/34628/...

1 1

Melissa @melissadando.bsky.social · Sep 5

@who.int's new policy brief on food taxes for a healthy diet provides a useful overview of health taxes on food as an effective fiscal policy to:

🍎 create healthier food environments
🍇 promote healthier diets
🥕 reduce the burden of diet-related NCDs including cancer

Check it out: bit.ly/4nezVLB

1

Melissa @melissadando.bsky.social · Sep 3

Good news! The UK Government has today launched its consultation on banning the sale of high-caffeine energy drinks to under-16s - delivering on a key manifesto promise.

@sustainweb.org has long campaigned for this step, which could prevent obesity in up to 40,000 children.

bit.ly/4nbVgoP

Government to ban high caffeine energy drinks sales to children | Sustain

Sustain's Children's Food Campaign welcomes the government's plans to ban the sales of high caffeine energy drinks to under-16s as a logical step for drinks that already carry warning labels saying 'n...

bit.ly

1 3 6

Melissa @melissadando.bsky.social · Aug 22

Today the UK Government published guidelines for commercial baby food.

This is a welcome step, as levels of salt and sugar in these products are far too high and many have misleading claims. But ultimately, we need mandatory guidelines to achieve meaningful change.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Baby food firms told to cut sugar and stop promoting snacks for under-ones

Manufacturers who do not make products healthier within 18 months may face action, the government says.

www.bbc.co.uk

1 1

Reposted by Melissa

World Cancer Research Fund @wcrf.org · Aug 8

We are very pleased to announce that our 2025/2026 grant calls will open on 8 September. This includes the Regular Grant Programme, aimed at senior established researchers and the INSPIRE Research Challenge, for early career researchers www.wcrf.org/research-pol...

2 2

Melissa @melissadando.bsky.social · Aug 6

Alcohol is a known cause of at least 7 cancers yet public awareness of this fact is worryingly low and current policy does not reflect it!

The government must do more to address alcohol harm. Thanks to @aha-uk.bsky.social for continuing to call for the change we desperately need to see.

Alcohol Health Alliance UK @aha-uk.bsky.social · Aug 6

✍️ Joined by over 30 leading health and policy experts, we have written to Secretary of State Wes Streeting MP, urging him to revisit the current approach to tackling alcohol harm and commit to an evidence-based strategy that reflects the true scale of the current crisis.

ahauk.org/news/health-...

1

Melissa @melissadando.bsky.social · Aug 4

Globally, less than half of all babies under 6 months are exclusively breastfed (as recommended by WHO).

As @ioanav.bsky.social wrote in her blog for World Breastfeeding Week:

"Promoting, protecting and supporting breastfeeding should be a key goal of public health in the 21st century."

World Cancer Research Fund @wcrf.org · Jul 30

Many women struggle to breastfeed or opt not to, often in the absence of adequate support across policy, societal, and healthcare systems.

This is why policies to support as many parents as possible to choose breastfeeding are more needed than ever
www.wcrf.org/about-us/new...

Supporting breastfeeding for healthy beginnings, hopeful futures | World Cancer Research Fund

Ioana Vlad, our Senior Policy Research Manager, looks at why investment in policies to promote, protect and support breastfeeding is a win for all.

www.wcrf.org

1 1

Melissa @melissadando.bsky.social · Jul 3

Today the Govt launched the long-awaited 10 Year Health Plan, which sets out how they seek to shift from sickness to prevention.

There is lots to welcome but also a long way to go - particularly on alcohol & infant nutrition.

Read more from a cancer prevention perspective here 🔗 bit.ly/10YHPWCRF

We applaud launch of 10-Year Health Plan, but there are still shortcomings | World Cancer Research Fund

While the government's big health announcement had some good points, we think they could do much more

bit.ly

Melissa @melissadando.bsky.social · Jul 2

Breastfeeding plays an important role in cancer prevention and much more, so it is encouraging to see it getting attention in Parliament.

This is a testament to the amazing work of @1stepsnutrition.bsky.social & @katiepk.bsky.social who advocate tirelessly for better nutrition in the early years.

World Cancer Research Fund @wcrf.org · Jul 2

Great to see infant feeding being raised as a matter of policy priority for the UK Parliament by @jessbrownfullermp.bsky.social, who made it clear that the promise by Secretary of State for Health to create the “healthiest generation ever” cannot be met unless infant feeding is prioritised.

4 5

Melissa @melissadando.bsky.social · Jun 30

Thanks very much @stevedarlingmp.bsky.social for supporting #CPAW25, which officially wrapped up yesterday.

Raising awareness that alcohol is a cause of at least 7 types of cancer is essential given that @wcrf.org polling found only 7% of UK adults are aware of the link.

Steve Darling MP @stevedarlingmp.bsky.social · Jun 24

It’s Cancer Prevention Action Week.

This year’s focus: alcohol and cancer.

Alcohol is linked to 7 types of cancer. Let’s talk openly about our health, our choices, and what prevention really looks like.

Read more at: 🔗 wcrf.org/CPAW25

A graphic that reads "Alcohol and cancer: Let's talk" and "Did you know? alcohol increases the risk of 7 different cancers."

1 1

Melissa @melissadando.bsky.social · Jun 30

Last week at No.10 we handed in our petition, calling for a National Alcohol Strategy for England.

It was definitely a highlight and even though Cancer Prevention Action Week is officially over, we are going to keep the conversation going about alcohol and cancer!

Melissa @melissadando.bsky.social · Jun 26

This week I wrote a guest blog for @alcoholfocus.bsky.social about why alcohol-related cancer must be a priority for all parties ahead of the Scottish parliamentary election next year.

Scotland led the way on MUP and they must do so again, going further to address alcohol harm 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Alcohol Focus Scotland @alcoholfocus.bsky.social · Jun 24

As part of Cancer Prevention Action Week we've published a guest blog from Melissa Dando who tells us why tackling alcohol harm must be prioritised by all political parties ahead of the Scottish Parliamentary election in 2026! @WCRF_UK #CPAW25

www.alcohol-focus-sc...

Scotland can once again lead the way on alcohol - Guest Blog, by Melissa Dando | News | Alcohol Focus Scotland

Cancer Prevention Action Week 2025 Scotland can once again lead the way on alcohol

www.alcohol-focus-scotland.org.uk

1 2

Melissa @melissadando.bsky.social · Jun 23

On Saturday @theguardian.com covered our call for health warning labels on alcohol, which is a cause of 7 cancers.

A great start to @wcrf.org Cancer Prevention Action Week!! We need to see more effective policies on alcohol to tackle its many harms #CPAW25

The Guardian @theguardian.com · Jun 21

Alcohol should have labels warning drinkers of cancer risks, charities say

Health organisations have written to Keir Starmer urging him to force drinks producers to include warnings Cans and bottles of beer, wine and spirits should explicitly warn drinkers that alcohol causes cancer, an unprecedented alliance of doctors, charities and public experts have said. Warning labels would tackle “shockingly low” public awareness in the UK that alcohol is proven to cause seven forms of cancer and 17,000 cases a year of the disease, they claim. Continue reading...

www.theguardian.com

Melissa @melissadando.bsky.social · Jun 5

Very welcome news that the government will extend free school meals from next September!

This decision will benefit thousands of children, who have a right to healthy, nutritious food.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Free school meal rule change to make 500,000 more pupils eligible

Charities broadly welcome the plans, saying they hope it is a sign of more to come.

www.bbc.co.uk

Melissa @melissadando.bsky.social · May 29

Thank you @chionwurah.bsky.social for meeting with @wcrf.org amazing grant holders Assoc Prof Jill McKay, Prof Dianne Ford and Dr Jessica Saville.

Their study could lead to earlier diagnosis of childhood leukaemia, which is linked to better outcomes for patients. Find out more 🔗 bit.ly/4dnPrRR

Chi Onwurah @chionwurah.bsky.social · May 28

Cancer prevention research in action!

Great to see the World Cancer Research Fund at @NorthumbriaUni to discuss the importance of preventative research, their role in funding innovative studies and the vital part #Newcastle facilities play in national cancer prevention efforts

2 4