Three in Four to Survive Cancer by 2035 under New NHS Plan, says Government
Three in four people diagnosed with cancer in England from 2035 are expected to be cancer-free or living well five years later under a new NHS plan published this week.
The target marks a sharp increase from today’s five-year survival rate of around 60% and is described by the government as the fastest improvement in cancer outcomes this century. Officials say that the plan could save around 320,000 lives over its lifetime if delivered in full.
Waiting times to be met by March 2029
The central part of the strategy is tackling the long wait times for diagnosis and treatment. The NHS has missed its main cancer waiting time target - which is currently that 85% of patients begin treatment within 62 days of referral - since 2014. Under the new plan, ministers say all cancer waiting time standards will be met by March 2029, allowing hundreds of thousands more patients to start treatment sooner.
“Cancer survival shouldn’t come down to who won the lottery of life”
Health Secretary Wes Streeting, who is a cancer survivor, said that the gap between the UK and other countries when it comes to surviving cancer has gone on for too long. “Cancer survival shouldn’t come down to who won the lottery of life. But cancer is more likely to be a death sentence in Britain than other countries around the world,” he said. “As a cancer survivor who owes my life to the NHS, I owe it to future patients to make sure they receive the same outstanding care I did.”
New plan looks to diagnose earlier and bring in millions more tests and scans
The 10-year strategy focuses heavily on diagnosing cancers earlier, when treatment is more likely to work. At the moment, just over half of cancers are found at stages one or two, and that figure has barely improved in the past decade. Screening will be expanded, including changes to bowel cancer testing thresholds and a wider rollout of targeted lung cancer checks for former smokers.
The government has also committed £2.3bn to deliver an extra 9.5 million tests and scans by 2029, with more scanners, digital systems and automated testing. They aim for Community Diagnostic Centres to run 12 hours a day, seven days a week, to bring checks closer to where people live and at more convenient times.
Robot-assisted surgeries to rise to half a million a year
New technology also features prominently in the plan. The number of robot-assisted operations — including cancer surgery — is set to rise from about 70,000 a year to 500,000 by 2035. Genomic testing will be offered more widely so doctors can tailor treatment to the DNA of an individual’s cancer, and a new AI pilot will aim to spot certain lung cancers earlier with fewer invasive tests.
Rare cancers to be treated more at specialist centres
Patients with rare and less common cancers are expected to see more care delivered through specialist centres, while every cancer patient will be given a named care lead and a personalised support plan covering treatment, mental health and work. The NHS app will also be used to link people with cancer charities as soon as they are diagnosed.
How have people reacted to the plan?
Professor Peter Johnson, NHS national clinical director for cancer, said: “This plan sets a clear roadmap for the NHS to diagnose more cancers earlier, ensure more patients are treated on time and improve survival, so that hundreds of thousands more people live longer, healthier lives with or after cancer over the next decade.”
Cancer charities broadly welcomed the ambition, while warning that delivery will be key. Gemma Peters, chief executive of Macmillan Cancer Support, said: “People living with cancer tell us all too often that their care hasn’t been good enough, from long waits for tests and treatment to being left without the support they need once treatment ends.” She said the plan had the potential to transform care so people “not only live longer but live better”.
Michelle Mitchell, chief executive of Cancer Research UK, described the strategy as a “significant commitment”, but said a wide range of measures would be needed to close the survival gap with countries such as Australia, Denmark and Norway.
Concerns have also been raised about staffing. The Royal College of Radiologists says there are already serious shortages of specialist doctors, warning that faster diagnosis and treatment will be difficult without sustained investment in the workforce.
Despite those challenges, ministers insist the plan is achievable, pointing to rising NHS funding and rapid advances in medical science. For patients, the promise is clear: earlier diagnosis, quicker treatment and better support — and a far better chance of surviving cancer in the years ahead.
