The UK is grappling with a record surge in cancer diagnoses, with new figures revealing that approximately one person receives a diagnosis every 80 seconds.
Analysis by Cancer Research UK indicates over 403,000 individuals are diagnosed annually, a rise largely due to the nation’s growing and ageing population, as cancer risk increases with age.
The charity warns NHS services are struggling under escalating demand, with cancer waiting times across the country among the worst on record.
Its new “Cancer in the UK Report 2026” shows incidences have risen to 620 per 100,000 people in a decade (from 610), while early stage diagnoses have barely changed (from 54% to 55%).
Death rates have fallen and the proportion of people surviving a decade or more has risen, but Cancer Research UK said this progress is at risk of stalling, in part due to pressure on cancer services.
It said the Government’s recently published National Cancer Plan for England is a “crucial step” towards improving care, but there needs to be “funding and resources to translate ambition into impact”.
Michelle Mitchell, Cancer Research UK’s chief executive, said: “More people are being diagnosed with cancer than ever before.
“Although cancer survival has doubled since the 1970s, progress has slowed over the last decade.
“The UK Government’s recently published National Cancer Plan for England could make a big difference, but only if it turns into improvements for cancer patients.
“Publishing the plan is not a ‘job done’ on cancer: ambitions to diagnose cancers earlier, meet cancer wait targets and improve best practice treatment must happen quickly.”
The charity wants screening programmes such as for lung cancer to be rolled out widely and effectively and the rollout of innovative cancer tests to be accelerated.
Around 107,000 cancer patients were waiting more than 62 days to start treatment across the UK in 2025, it said.
Cancer Research UK praised the Government’s commitments to meet waiting times targets in England but said the situation is much worse in Northern Ireland and called for more investment nationwide in specialist staff and equipment.
A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: “We have delivered a record number of diagnostic tests in the last 12 months, backed by an extra £26 billion for the NHS – and the number of patients getting a cancer diagnosis or all-clear on time is the highest in five years – but we are not complacent.
“Our National Cancer Plan sets out how patients will receive a diagnosis faster, treatment sooner and better support to live well with cancer, with the aim of 75% of patients diagnosed from 2035 to be cancer-free or living well after five years.
“Our historic Tobacco and Vapes Bill, which is due to come into law soon, will also protect future generations from cancer.”