Cancer charities call for earlier diagnosis as cases projected to surge in England by 2040
Cancer cases are projected to surge in England by 2040, with a person diagnosed every two minutes, up from one every four minutes in the 1970s.
More than 6 million new cases of the disease are predicted to be diagnosed over the next 15 years, with the NHS at risk of being unable to cope unless action is taken to prevent more cases and diagnose the disease earlier, when it is more treatable.
One Cancer Voice, the coalition of 60 cancer charities that published the projections on Tuesday, called on ministers to set early diagnosis targets and introduce strong prevention policies to save lives and transform cancer outcomes.
The projected increase in cases is likely to be due to a range of factors, including a rapidly expanding and ageing population, improvements in detection and diagnosis, and a higher prevalence of known risk factors for the disease.
Despite progress in survival – which has doubled since the 1970s – the surge in cases threatens to pile pressure on an already overstretched NHS. Without decisive action, England risks falling behind comparable countries in cancer outcomes, the analysis warns.
The projections come after the Department of Health and Social Care launched a call in February for evidence to help shape a national cancer plan.
Michelle Mitchell, the chief executive of Cancer Research UK and a One Cancer Voice representative, said: “Nearly one in two of us will be diagnosed with cancer in our lifetime – everyone will be impacted by the disease, whether they receive a diagnosis themselves, or have a friend, family member or loved one who does.
“The national cancer plan for England could be a defining moment. If the UK government delivers an ambitious, fully funded strategy, we could save more lives and transform cancer outcomes, propelling England from world-lagging to among world-leading when it comes to tackling this disease.
“We’ve seen progress before – now is the time to act again and make a difference for cancer patients.”
Source: The Guardian, 27 August 2025