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Brighton Festival debate a great success

BSMS > About BSMS > News > 2015 > Brighton Festival debate a great success

Brighton Festival debate a great success

'Facing Cancer', the BSMS debate at the Brighton Festival, has been heralded as a great success.

The debate saw a panel of experts discuss the subject of cancer from multiple perspectives: the medical, the ethical, the research-based and the human.

The panel consisted of Prof Malcolm Reed, Prof Bobbie Farsides and Prof Fallowfield from BSMS, along with Prof Peter Johnson from Cancer Research UK, and award-winning author Marion Coutts. It was chaired by Nicholas Timmins of the Institute for Government and the King's Fund.

Topics of discussion included treatment, emotional response following diagnosis, the importance of transparent communication and the destigmatisation of the term 'cancer'.

The debate generated much discussion with the audience, many of whom had personal experience of the disease. Also present in the audience were senior medical practitioners, representatives from cancer charities, the High Sheriffs of East and West Sussex, and the Mayor of Brighton and Hove.

The debate received a four-star review from The Argus, who praised the "startlingly brave" discussion.

Prof Malcolm Reed, Dean of BSMS, said: "This years' event at the Brighton Festival built on our success of last year's debate and created substantial public interest and a lively discussion. I look forward to this becoming a highlight of our public engagement programme in future years."

'Facing Cancer' was filmed and can be viewed here. [ADD LINK]