Health Secretary Wes Streeting is contemplating the revival of a dedicated cancer strategy in the UK, aiming to tackle the increasing rates of cancer diagnoses and the challenges faced by NHS cancer services.

Cancer remains a significant health crisis in the UK, being the second leading cause of death, with approximately 167,000 fatalities each year.

As a kidney cancer survivor, Streeting is particularly motivated to create a focused plan that addresses critical issues such as long waiting times, staffing shortages, and access to innovative treatments.

Cancer experts, including Professors Mark Lawler and Pat Price, are hopeful about the potential reintroduction of a national cancer plan, criticizing the previous government's decision to eliminate it as detrimental to patient care.

From 2000 to 2015, prior governments implemented four cancer-specific action plans that successfully enhanced treatment options, reduced waiting times, and improved survival rates.

In January 2022, former Health Secretary Steve Barclay announced that cancer care would be integrated into a broader major conditions strategy, a move that raised concerns among specialists and charities regarding the dilution of focus on cancer.

Experts caution that merging cancer care with other health issues could undermine its effectiveness and the specific attention it requires.

Michelle Mitchell, CEO of Cancer Research UK, underscores the importance of long-term cancer strategies, which have been shown to lead to better survival rates and earlier diagnoses.

The previous government's ambitious major conditions strategy has been delayed, with a new 10-year NHS revival plan anticipated to be unveiled in spring 2024.