The government’s 10-year cancer plan targets 75% of patients surviving or living well five years post-diagnosis, focusing on faster diagnosis and treatment
The UK government’s new National Cancer Plan aims to ensure that three in four patients survive or live well five years after diagnosis by 2035, with faster diagnosis, quicker treatment, and major investments in technology and specialist care to improve outcomes.
What does the National Cancer Plan promise?
Since 2014, the NHS has not met its central cancer performance target of 5% of patients starting treatment within 62 days of referral.
Under the new National Cancer Plan, this figure will improve. By March 2029, the NHS will meet all three cancer waiting time standards, enabling hundreds of thousands more patients to receive timely treatment.
Current statistics show that 60% of patients survive for five years or more, and around 2.4 million people are currently living after a cancer diagnosis.
The plan sets out transformational reforms to how cancer is diagnosed and treated:
- A £2.3 billion investment will provide 9.5 million additional tests by 2029. The funds will be used to purchase additional scanners, digital technology, and automated testing systems.
- The NHS will increase robot-assisted surgeries from 70,000 to 500,000 by 2035.
- Specialist cancer centres will review and treat more patients with rarer cancers, enabling them to benefit from the expertise of the best cancer doctors.
- Genomic testing: DNA testing of the patient’s cancer will be offered if beneficial, helping doctors better understand the cancer’s type.
- Waiting lists: New technology is being developed to give patients better access to cancer tests by offering them the earliest available appointment across a range of NHS organisations in their local area.
Expert commentary by health leaders
“Cancer survival shouldn’t come down to who won the lottery of life. But cancer is more likely to be a death sentence in Britain than other countries around the world.”
“As a cancer survivor who owes my life to the NHS, I owe it to future patients to make sure they receive the same outstanding care I did.
Thanks to the revolution in medical science and technology, we have the opportunity to transform the life chances of cancer patients. Our cancer plan will invest in and modernise the NHS, so that opportunity can be seized and our ambitions realised.
This plan will slash waits, invest in cutting-edge technology, and give every patient the best possible chance of beating cancer.”
Professor Peter Johnson, NHS national clinical director for cancer, said: “Almost everyone will know someone who has been affected by cancer – a friend, a partner, a parent or a child – and for many people it will be part of their own story too.
This plan sets a clear roadmap for the NHS to diagnose more cancers earlier, ensure more patients are treated on time and improve survival, so that hundreds of thousands more people live longer, healthier lives with or after cancer over the next decade.
This is alongside delivering the latest breakthroughs in cancer treatment and care to every corner of the country, improving access to pioneering trials and ensuring there is wraparound support for people closer to home.
The National Cancer Plan will see the NHS deliver world-class cancer care, offering renewed hope for millions and ensuring the health service is there for patients whenever they need it.”
Gemma Peters, Chief Executive at Macmillan Cancer Support, said:
“It’s encouraging to see such bold survival ambitions in the National Cancer Plan for England. This comes at a time when people living with cancer tell us all too often that their care hasn’t been good enough, from long waits for tests and treatment to being left without the support they need once treatment ends.”
“This Plan has the potential to transform care for people living with cancer, ensuring people not only live longer but live better with their diagnosis. We look forward to working with the government to make this vision a reality: adding life to years, as well as years to life.”
Michelle Mitchell, chief executive of Cancer Research UK, said: “The publication of the National Cancer Plan for England represents a significant commitment by the UK government to treat cancer with the seriousness it deserves.
Across England, too many cancer patients are waiting too long to start treatment, so it’s important that the UK government has committed to meeting cancer waiting time targets by 2029. A wide range of measures will be needed for these to be met.
In addition to this, it’s promising to see the government’s ambitious commitment to saving more lives from cancer. England lags behind comparable countries on cancer survival and it’s vital that this changes, so more people affected by cancer can live longer, better lives.”
Chris Walden, Chief Executive Officer, Cancer52, said:
“For the first time, an England cancer plan includes a specific focus on rare and less common cancers. This is a step change; the needs of our community have been heard. We welcome the government’s response to our calls to switch gear on improving diagnosis, increasing research and introducing leadership so that rare and less common cancers have parity.”
“Now the changes outlined in the Plan, and the Rare Cancers Bill, have to be implemented in full. They have the potential to make a real difference to the lives of people living with a rare and less common cancer now and in the future.”
Dame Laura Lee, chief executive of Maggie’s, said: “If we are to usher in a new era of world-leading cancer care that is truly catered to the needs of people with cancer, it is vital that the right practical and emotional support is provided to help people manage and live with cancer.
That’s why we are really pleased to see the government recognise the need to improve support for people at every stage of cancer and acknowledge that the challenges of cancer don’t end when treatment ends.
We warmly welcome the introduction of the new target and look forward to working with the government and the NHS to ensure people can live well with cancer.
At Maggie’s, we believe that with the right support, people can live full, productive lives with and beyond cancer. While the number of people diagnosed cancer is only going to rise, more people are surviving than ever before or living for many years as medical advancements effectively keeping cancer at bay.”
