More people than ever before are getting tested for cancer with almost three million checks over the last 12 months, new analysis shows.
Almost three million people (2,980,258) were seen for urgent cancer checks over the last year (Nov 2022 to Oct 2023) – the highest year on record. Up by 147,960 on the same period last year, and up over a quarter (622,562) on the same period before the pandemic (2,357,696).
The new analysis also shows there has been a 133% increase in the number of people getting checked for cancer, over the last decade – with 1,275,231 urgent cancer referrals between Nov 2012 to Oct 2013. This record year of checks has been delivered despite NHS staff managing one of the busiest winters ever in addition to unprecedented industrial action.
The latest monthly figures also show that October 2023 was the highest month on record for cancer checks with 269,492 urgent referrals. In the same month more than seven in 10 people received all clear or a definitive diagnosis for cancer within one month (192,889).
The NHS has also made progress towards its ambition to diagnose three quarters of cancers at stage one or two when they are easier to treat. For the first time, the rapid registration data shows 58% of cancers were diagnosed at stage one or two between September 2022 and August 2023– which is around 2.1% points above the level before the pandemic.
One of the ways that the NHS is catching cancers earlier is through the hugely successful NHS lung health check programme – mobile trucks go into the heart of communities to offer checks at shopping centres and supermarket car parks, has now diagnosed almost 3,000 people with lung cancer – three quarters at stage one or two.
Last year also saw the NHS pledge to eliminate cervical cancer by 2040, setting out plans to increase HPV vaccine and screening uptake, to save thousands of lives every year.
Dame Cally Palmer, National Cancer Director for NHS England, said: “More people than ever before have received potentially lifesaving checks for cancer over the last year, which is a testament to the hard work of NHS staff who have delivered this level of care, despite an extremely challenging year and unprecedented industrial action.
“We know there is more to do, but we have been throwing everything we have at catching cancers earlier because we know it’s the best way to save lives – and we are seeing progress with more people than ever before being diagnosed at stage one and two.”