A Taplow man is to be the face of a national blood cancer charity report launched in Parliament.

The “Hear our Voice” report will be fronted by Taplow resident Newton McGrath and documents the stories of people across the country who have either lost a relative due to blood cancer or have been diagnosed themselves. The charity are calling on the Government to make clinical trials for new drugs available to more blood cancer patients.

The report also calls on the Government to ensure access to trained emotional and psychological support for all blood cancer patients as part of their personalised care to help cope with the traumatic experience of diagnosis.

Newton McGrath was diagnosed with a type of blood cancer called myeloma in 2007 after abnormalities showed on a blood test during a routine health check.

Newton said: “When I was first diagnosed, I was very worried about the fact my myeloma was likely to come back. I feel a lot more positive about the future now. Trials give me hope.

“I am already being lined up for the next trial, which ios fantastic. The treatment I’m on now is helping save my life and I hope the trials I’ve been part of since I was diagnosed will be able to help save other peoples’ lives also.”

Chief Executive of Bloodwise Gemma Peters added: “One in 19 people will be diagnosed by blood cancer in the lifetime. Although Newton’s experience is unique to him, it and other accounts featured in the report tell the wider story of how people affected by blood cancer are cared for across the UK.”