Cancer prevention policy

• Health & Medicine

Junk food is flooding young people’s social feeds

New research reveals the scale of junk food promotion on social media, and the urgent need to protect young people online. New research reveals the scale of junk food promotion on social media, and the urgent need to protect young people online.

19 August 2025

• Policy & Insight

Making a mark: looking back at three years of Smokefree UK

To celebrate the past three years of our Smokefree UK campaign, we’re looking back at three moments where our campaigning has made a mark. To celebrate the past three years of our Smokefree UK campaign, we’re looking back at three moments where our campaigning has made a mark.

4 July 2025

• Health & Medicine

A new tool to help eliminate cervical cancer worldwide

We funded the Cervical Cancer Elimination Planning Tool, which countries around the world can use to find the best way for them to use screening, vaccination and treatment to stop cervical cancer. We funded the Cervical Cancer Elimination Planning Tool, which countries around the world can use to find the best way for them to use screening, vaccination and treatment to stop cervical cancer.

19 June 2025

• Policy & Insight

Scottish Parliament votes to raise the age of sale for tobacco

16 June 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

A key milestone passed: The Tobacco and Vapes Bill completes Report Stage and Third Reading Stage in the House of Commons

After hours of debate in the House of Commons, MPs have voted in favour of the Tobacco and Vapes Bill during its Third Reading. After hours of debate in the House of Commons, MPs have voted in favour of the Tobacco and Vapes Bill during its Third Reading.

27 March 2025

• Health & Medicine

Welsh Senedd Members vote to pass food promotion legislation

Today, Senedd Members voted to bring in new laws to help make it easier to choose healthier food and drink options in Wales. Today, Senedd Members voted to bring in new laws to help make it easier to choose healthier food and drink options in Wales.

25 March 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

Smoking rates falling fastest in the North of England, but progress is slowing

A new study that we funded has revealed that smoking rates have fallen more quickly in the North of England compared to other regions. A new study that we funded has revealed that smoking rates have fallen more quickly in the North of England compared to other regions.

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

• 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