Cancer charities call for earlier diagnosis as cases projected to surge in England by 2040 | Cancer

Cancer cases are expected to increase in England by 2040, with a person diagnosed every two minutes, against one every four minutes in the 1970s.

More than 6 million new cases of illness should be diagnosed over the next 15 years, the NHS at risk of being unable to deal with unless measures are taken to prevent more cases and diagnose the disease earlier, when it is more treatable.

One voice against cancer, the coalition of 60 charitable organizations against cancer that published projections on Tuesday, called on ministers to set early diagnostic objectives and to introduce strong prevention policies to save lives and transform cancer results.

The expected increase in cases is probably due to a series of factors, including a rapidly and aging population, improvements in detection and diagnosis, and a higher risk factors for the disease.

There have been 5.5 million cases in the past 15 years, indicates the analysis. There will be an increase of 14.2% over the next 15 years, with 6.3 million cases of cancer planned by 2040.

At the regional level, the Southeast could have the greatest increase in diagnoses, with more than a million cases by 2040, suggests the study.

This is followed by the North West, with 865,000 cases, eastern England and South West with 722,000 and London with 714,000.

The analysis has also revealed that cases of common cancers should reach record heights.

By 2040, there will be 1,050,000 cases of diagnosed prostate cancer, as well as 906,000 cases of breast cancer and 821,000 cases of lung cancer, depending on the coalition.

Despite progress in survival – which have doubled since the 1970s – the sharp increase in cases threatened to carry out pressure on an already overloaded NHS. Without decisive action, England may be delayed on comparable countries in cancer results, warns the analysis.

The projections are intervened after the Ministry of Health and Social Coins appealed in February for evidence to help shape a national cancer plan.

Michelle Mitchell, Director General of Cancer Research UK and representative One Cancer Voice, said: “Almost one in two of us will receive a diagnosis of cancer in our life – everyone will be affected by the disease, that they themselves receive a diagnosis or to have a friend, a family member or a loved one who does it.

“The national cancer plan for England could be a decisive moment. If the British government issues an ambitious and entirely funded strategy, we could save more lives and transform the results of cancer, propeling England from the world discharge to global management when it comes to attacking this disease.

“We have already seen progress – it is now time to act again and make a difference for cancer patients.”

The coalition calls on ministers to meet six “tests” to make England a world leader in cancer.

They are:

• A commitment to respect all waiting times in cancer at the end of Parliament in 2029.

• A new prior diagnostic objective, with improved screening programs.

• The introduction of strong cancer prevention policies.

• Approach inequalities in patient care.

• Improve access to clinical trials for cancer patients.

• Better support for people to live well with and beyond cancer.

A spokesman for the Ministry of Health and Social Care said: “This government favors care against cancer while we return more than a decade of negligence of our NHS.

“We already have an impact, with 95,000 more people with cancer diagnosed or excluded within 28 days between July 2024 and May 2025, compared to the same period the previous year. This will soon be supported by our new national cancer plan, explaining how cancer care will improve in the coming years.

“We also facilitate tests, controls and analyzes with DIY screening kits for cervical cancer, new radiotherapy machines in each region and by creating the first smokeless generation.”