UK government announces National Cancer Plan for England

Today, 4th February, is World Cancer Day and sees the announcement of the UK government's National Cancer Plan for England. The plan, shaped by an extensive call for evidence exercise, held from 4 February to 29 April 2025 with more than 11,000 responses from patients, policy makers, clinicians, researchers, health groups and cancer charities, sets out how the UK will improve cancer care so that 3 out of 4 people diagnosed with cancer survive for 5 years or more by 2035.

With cancer outcomes in the UK lagging behind comparable European countries, and higher mortality rates from the disease, there had been repeated calls for a cancer plan to tackle the issue - and improving early diagnosis is seen as crucial. Currently just over half of cancers are diagnosed at stages one and two, which provides the best opportunity to treat the disease. The proportion has improved little in the past decade.

Steps to identify more cancers through screening have been outlined – currently only 6% of cases are.

The government has said it will lower the threshold at which bowel cancer screening triggers further checks to help identify more cancers and a targeted lung cancer screening programme is also being rolled out for ex-smokers.

The plan is promising to:

• deliver 9.5 million more tests and scans by 2029

• rapidly increase the amount of precision robotic surgery being carried out

• treat more rare cancers, such as brain cancer, in specialist centres in a bid to improve outcomes

• expand genetic testing so more patients benefit from targeted treatment, such as immunotherapy, for their specific type of cancer

• provide every patient with a tailored support plan covering treatment, mental health and employment support

• give every patient a named local care lead to provide support after treatment

Prof Peter Johnson, the NHS clinical director for cancer, said: “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.”

Michelle Mitchell, the chief executive of Cancer Research UK (CRUK), welcomed the plan as she warned that “too many cancer patients” were still waiting too long to start treatment. “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,” she said.