21 January 2025 – Roger Wilson

Cancer care

Patchy past; fairer future?

Roger Wilson was diagnosed with cancer 25 years ago. For much of this time he has worked for a better future for patients, through charities, within the NHS and in cancer research internationally. As an ‘involved patient’ he has penetrated the system.

In his talk for Engaging Issues, Roger will reflect on what he has seen and experienced in that time. He will identify key learning points, and look for where a better future for all cancer patients might lie.

Roger Wilson

By background Roger is a journalist and TV producer. His early career was in BBC production.

In 1999, Roger was diagnosed with a rare cancer (sarcoma). Since then he and has had six recurrences, treated with chemotherapy, surgery and radiotherapy.

Roger founded Sarcoma UK in 2003. The charity raises about £3.8m a year, supports patients and funds research.

Roger has worked with the NHS cancer service, served on the Board of the National Cancer Research Institute and currently works with the Health Research Authority and the regulator MHRA. Internationally, Roger is a co-founder of the Sarcoma Patient Advocacy Global Network, an umbrella charity for worldwide patient groups; was the founder Chair of the EORTC Patient Panel (a pan-European cancer research charity); and currently advises NCT, the German national cancer research centre.

Roger was awarded the CBE for services to healthcare in 2011 and has honorary degrees from Sheffield and Lancaster Universities. He is an elected Member of Cancer Research UK.