NHS England cancer diagnoses hit record 1,021 a day in 2024

NHS England diagnosed more than 373,000 people with cancer in 2024 — an average of 1,021 a day — the highest number on record, according to the latest cancer registration statistics. The daily figure was up from 972 in 2023.

Prostate, breast, lung and bowel cancers together accounted for half of all new diagnoses.

The data also pointed to a modest improvement in how early cancers were found, with 56.7% of first new cancers diagnosed at stage 1 or 2 in 2024, compared with 55.8% in 2023.

Time targets still being missed

Experts warned that although more cases were being identified, the health service was still failing to meet its timescale targets on diagnosis and treatment.

The most recent monthly NHS figures show that 78.6% of patients in England urgently referred for suspected cancer were diagnosed or had cancer ruled out within 28 days in August — below the 80% target. Performance on treatment is further behind: 71.9% of patients began treatment within 62 days of an urgent referral or consultant upgrade, against a target of 85%.

Prof Peter Johnson, NHS national clinical director for cancer, said the figures showed the health service was "moving in the right direction" and reflected the work of NHS staff. He said teams across the country were taking tests and checks closer to the people who need them, and that with new treatments being developed, the service would keep working to see and treat patients as early as possible.

Dr Ian Walker, executive director of policy at Cancer Research UK, said that while NHS staff were diagnosing more people with cancer every day, too many cases were still being caught late. He said the health service needed additional support to cut the number of late-stage diagnoses and treat patients on time, and urged the government to keep pushing on its national cancer plan for England, with focused effort, clear accountability and a guarantee that the NHS gets the specialist staff and equipment it needs.

Demand and risk factors

Dr Hilary Williams, clinical vice-president at the Royal College of Physicians and a consultant in medical oncology, said more than 1,000 cancer diagnoses every day was a stark reminder of growing demand on NHS cancer services. She said an ageing population was an important factor in rising diagnoses, but that obesity — a major and often overlooked risk factor — also played a role. Alongside preventing cancer, she said the NHS needed to keep improving early detection, including by expanding targeted lung cancer screening, and to make sure people living longer with cancer can access specialist care and support.

Steven McIntosh, chief partnerships officer at Macmillan Cancer Support, said the figures masked persistent health inequalities, noting that who you are and where you live still affects how likely you are to get cancer, how quickly you are diagnosed and your chances of survival.

Rachael Franklin, deputy chief executive of Breast Cancer Now, said that with diagnoses at an all-time high and overall incidence rising, breast cancer remains the biggest killer of working-age women in the UK, with one in seven women diagnosed in their lifetime. She urged people of all ages to be breast aware and to see a GP about anything new or unusual, and encouraged all eligible women to attend their screening appointment when invited.

Source: The Guardian.