• Health & Medicine

Cancer waiting times: Latest updates and analysis

Get the latest updates and analysis on NHS cancer waiting times in England, and learn what it means for people affected by cancer Get the latest updates and analysis on NHS cancer waiting times in England, and learn what it means for people affected by cancer

9 October 2025

• Policy & Insight

What Denmark (and Lego) can teach us about improving cancer survival

Cancer survival in Denmark and the UK used to be much lower than in other similar countries. That's still the case here, but Denmark has climbed the rankings. So, how did they do it? Cancer survival in Denmark and the UK used to be much lower than in other similar countries. That's still the case here, but Denmark has climbed the rankings. So, how did they do it?

19 September 2025

• Health & Medicine

Just half of urgently referred cancer patients are being diagnosed on time

Our analysis of Faster Diagnosis Standard data shows that the NHS is only diagnosing half of cancers on time after urgent referrals. Our analysis of Faster Diagnosis Standard data shows that the NHS is only diagnosing half of cancers on time after urgent referrals.

11 September 2025

• Policy & Insight

10 Year Health Plan: what does it mean for cancer and the National Cancer Plan?

With any big, ambitious government health strategy, the devil is in the detail. We're diving into the details of what the 10 Year Health Plan means for cancer. With any big, ambitious government health strategy, the devil is in the detail. We're diving into the details of what the 10 Year Health Plan means for cancer.

7 August 2025

• Policy & Insight

Spending Review 2025: What does it mean for cancer?

We analyse the Spending Review, the financial foundation for the next several years of cancer research and care We analyse the Spending Review, the financial foundation for the next several years of cancer research and care

11 June 2025

• Policy & Insight

Seizing the moment – 5 steps the Government must take to help UK cancer research thrive

Building on insights from our research community, we’re outlining five steps the Government must take to strengthen cancer research, and the wider ecosystem it sits within, so it can continue delivering life-saving tests and treatments.  Building on insights from our research community, we’re outlining five steps the Government must take to strengthen cancer research, and the wider ecosystem it sits within, so it can continue delivering life-saving tests and treatments. 

5 June 2025

• Policy & Insight

Early warnings, better outcomes: Getting the infrastructure right to unlock data for cancer detection

To get the most out of data-driven programmes we need to see some changes in the UK’s health data infrastructure. Here we explore what those changes need to be, and how programmes like CD3 can align with government’s priorities.  To get the most out of data-driven programmes we need to see some changes in the UK’s health data infrastructure. Here we explore what those changes need to be, and how programmes like CD3 can align with government’s priorities. 

19 March 2025

• Health & Medicine

Cancer death rates almost 60% higher in UK’s most deprived areas

Our new report, Cancer in the UK 2025: Socioeconomic deprivation, shows that cancer death rates are nearly 60% higher for people living in the most deprived areas of the UK, with around 28,400 extra cancer deaths each year linked to socioeconomic inequality. Our new report, Cancer in the UK 2025: Socioeconomic deprivation, shows that cancer death rates are nearly 60% higher for people living in the most deprived areas of the UK, with around 28,400 extra cancer deaths each year linked to socioeconomic inequality.

21 February 2025

• Health & Medicine

74,000 cancer patients not treated on time in 2024

New analysis has shown that last year, 74,000 cancer patients didn’t start their treatment on time. That's enough people to fill the O2 arena almost four times over. New analysis has shown that last year, 74,000 cancer patients didn’t start their treatment on time. That's enough people to fill the O2 arena almost four times over.

13 February 2025

• Policy & Insight

The road to a smokefree UK: MLAs in Northern Ireland vote in favour of Tobacco and Vapes Bill

Today marks an important and exciting day for our Smokefree UK campaign, with Members of the Legislative Assembly voting in favour of the Tobacco and Vapes Bill at the Northern Ireland Legislative Consent Motion. Today marks an important and exciting day for our Smokefree UK campaign, with Members of the Legislative Assembly voting in favour of the Tobacco and Vapes Bill at the Northern Ireland Legislative Consent Motion.

10 February 2025

• Policy & Insight

2024 in review - 7 significant steps forward for cancer policy

It's been a busy year for the policy team at Cancer Research UK! From campaigning for tobacco control to working internationally to beat cervical cancer, here are seven policy highlights from 2024. It's been a busy year for the policy team at Cancer Research UK! From campaigning for tobacco control to working internationally to beat cervical cancer, here are seven policy highlights from 2024.

27 December 2024

• Health & Medicine

Almost 90,000 cancer cases caught by screening over last five years

New data analysis from our Cancer Intelligence team has shown that around 89,800 cancer cases have been detected by the three national screening programmes in England in the last five years New data analysis from our Cancer Intelligence team has shown that around 89,800 cancer cases have been detected by the three national screening programmes in England in the last five years

19 December 2024