Many cancers no longer 'a death sentence' as treatment on 'cusp of golden era', NHS England medical director says

Many people with a cancer diagnosis "should be confident that it's not a death sentence and that more treatments will become available", according to the outgoing medical director of NHS England.

In his final interview before retiring, Professor Sir Stephen Powis said our understanding of the genetics of cancer and how it can be targeted is being "revolutionised".

Sir Stephen, 64 and a kidney specialist who has been the national medical director since 2018 and throughout the COVID pandemic, told The Times: "We are at the cusp of a golden era in terms of the way we treat a range of cancers.

"For many cancers now, people should be confident that it's not a death sentence and that more treatments will become available."

"We can't prevent all cancers, but there are cancers that we can certainly prevent," he said, adding that he hopes lung cancers will become "a lot rarer".

Cancer treatment, he said, would be "driven by genetics" to become more individualised with the increased ability to pinpoint mutations in cells.

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Source: Sky News, 14 July 2025