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Interview with CHE Partner, Jamie Page, BSc, MBA

Chief Executive, The Cancer Prevention & Education Society (Charity registered in England and Wales) www.cancerpreventionsociety.org

Steve Heilig: Tell us your own background - how did you come to your work?

In the eighties I believed that we needed more science and technology to improve human health. I worked for many years in the healthcare sector including Biogen and later Roche where I was responsible for their alfa interferon used in both oncology and virology. I became increasingly interested in the causes of cancer rather than therapeutics. The more I read the more I realized that environmental causes of cancer was a neglected area.

What is your primary mission in your work?

In the late 1990s we formed the Society, whose primary objective is to reduce cancer by working to reduce human exposure to harmful chemicals.


What are the most important recent developments in your work, scientific or otherwise?

Our biggest success to date was the review we supported on environmental causes of cancer by Newby and Howard at the University of Liverpool. When it was published last year it caused a small media wave and it was reported in four well-known newspapers including the Times and the Guardian. I was interviewed on BBC News.


What successes have most encouraged you in your work recently?

There is a groundswell of lay people and scientists concerned about chemicals and human health. Hardly a day goes by without there being articles on the subject. I am very encouraged by the Canadians being so concerned about chemicals and there seems to be increasing concern in the US as well judging by all the newspaper coverage of late.


What have been some of the greatest recent challenges?

When I hear distinguished members of the medical community say that there is no relation between chemicals and cancer I wonder what journals they are reading! It can be easy to get depressed and I have to remind myself that our work is a marathon, not a sprint.


What would you regard as the most significant potential future developments in your field?

The day I hear the medical establishment standing up and saying that chemicals are having a serious adverse effect on human health I think doors will fly open that were previously shut. Why they are so reluctant to do this is a puzzle to me given the increasing evidence linking chemicals and illness, and the success of their smoking prevention programs.


What or who continues to inspire you in your work?

All the courageous people who work ceaselessly often with little or no pay to raise awareness about environmental health.


Do you have any thoughts or suggestions about CHE itself?

A wonderful forum to meet and exchange information and ideas with like-minded people. It is a global network and consequently very powerful. Our charity is also very indebted to the outstanding daily news service provided by Environmental Health News.

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