NHS England has reported a notable increase in early cancer diagnoses, with nearly 60% of patients diagnosed at stages one or two between September 2023 and August 2024.

Specific data reveals that 120,958 out of 206,038 diagnosed common cancers were identified early, reflecting a 2.7% increase from pre-pandemic levels and resulting in an additional 7,000 early-stage diagnoses.

Dame Cally Palmer, NHS England's cancer director, emphasized the critical importance of early detection, stating that lives are saved when cancers are caught early.

Innovative initiatives like the NHS Lung Health Check (TLHC) have played a significant role in facilitating earlier lung cancer diagnoses, with over 5,000 diagnoses made since its launch in 2019.

The TLHC program, along with liver health initiatives, has been instrumental in increasing early cancer detection by utilizing mobile scanning units in community locations.

From November 2023 to October 2024, more than 3 million people received urgent cancer checks, marking an increase of over 100,000 from the previous year and more than 700,000 from five years ago.

In October 2024, 77.1% of patients were diagnosed or had cancer ruled out within 28 days of an urgent referral, exceeding the NHS target of 75%.

Despite these improvements in diagnosis rates, there are still significant delays in treatment, with only 68.2% of patients starting treatment within two months of an urgent referral, falling short of the 85% target.

Michelle Mitchell, chief executive of Cancer Research UK, has called on the UK Government to prioritize cancer care and invest in a long-term National Cancer Plan.

Prof Peter Johnson, NHS England’s national clinical director for cancer, stressed the need for ongoing awareness and encouragement for individuals to participate in cancer checks, especially as diagnoses rise with an aging population.

Paul Nelson, a 72-year-old lung cancer patient, shared his experience of being diagnosed early through the TLHC, underscoring the importance of undergoing health checks even when asymptomatic.

This overall improvement in early cancer diagnosis translates to approximately 7,000 additional patients diagnosed at an early stage, thanks to recent initiatives encouraging people to seek potentially life-saving checks.