Theresa May speaks of pain at goddaughter's death as she unveils new cancer strategy

'Every life saved means a parent, a partner, a child, a godmother spared the pain of losing a loved one before their time'

Theresa May has spoken of her pain at the death of her goddaughter from cancer as she unveiled a new blueprint to save 55,000 people from the disease over the next decade.

In a rare personal speech, the prime minister became visibly emotional when she described the agony of "losing a loved one before their time" after her cousin's daughter passed away a few years ago.

Ms May announced plans for a new cancer strategy to spare others such pain, including lowering the age for screening and building more rapid diagnostic centres.

The comments came as part of her Tory conference speech, where she vowed to end austerity, to freeze fuel duty for the ninth year and to lift the cap on local authority borrowing to fund new housebuilding.

Ms May said: "Cancer can strike any of us at any time.

"A few years ago, my goddaughter was diagnosed with cancer.

"She underwent treatment and it seemed to be working. But then the cancer came back.

"Last summer, she sent me a text to tell me that she was hoping to see another Christmas. But she didn't make it."

She also paid tribute to housing secretary James Brokenshire, who quit the cabinet earlier this year when he was diagnosed with lung cancer.

He returned to the front bench only a matter of weeks after having part of his lung removed.

She went on: "Half of us will be diagnosed with cancer. All of us know someone who has been.

"Survival rates are increasing, but we are lagging behind other countries.

"So today I can announce a new cancer strategy, funded through our 70th birthday investment, will form a central part of our long-term plan for the NHS."

Early diagnosis is a key factor in improving cancer rates, as treatments are more effective and the disease is less likely to have spread.

Five-year survival rates for bowel cancer are over 90% if caught early, but less than 10% if diagnosed late, while nine out of 10 women diagnosed with breast cancer in the earliest stage will survive more than five years.

"Through our cancer strategy, we will increase the early detection rate from one-in-two today, to-three-in-four by 2028," said Ms May.

"We will do it by lowering the age at which we screen for bowel cancer from 60 to 50, by investing in the very latest scanners, and by building more rapid diagnostic centres - one-stop shops that help people get treatment quicker."

Ms May predicted that by 2028, 55,000 more people will be alive five years after their diagnosis compared with today

She added: "Every life saved means precious extra years with friends and family.

"Every life saved means a parent, a partner, a child, a godmother spared the pain of losing a loved one before their time."

Cancer charities cautiously welcomed the proposals but highlighted the need for a "costed plan" to make sure there were enough doctors and nurses to realise the plans.

Moira Fraser, Macmillan Cancer Support's director of policy, said: "An early diagnosis can make a radical difference to someone's survival chances, treatment options and quality of life, and ambitions set out by the Prime Minister today have real potential to improve, and even save, lives.

"But to fulfil pledges like these tomorrow, we must address fundamental challenges in cancer care today, so that the health service is equipped for a growing population of people living with cancer and all that entails."

Emma Greenwood, Cancer Research UK's director of policy and public affairs, said: "The scale of the challenge is substantial and must now be reflected in overnment action.

"Significant investment in NHS staff who diagnose and treat cancer patients will be fundamental, as will continued research into new diagnostic tests."