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A new report by Cancer Research UK (CRUK) reveals that cancer survival in the UK has doubled since the 1970s, with half of all people diagnosed now living at least 10 years, compared to just 24% five decades ago. Mortality rates have fallen by 23%, marking what the report calls a “golden age” of progress in cancer research, early detection, and treatment innovation.
However, the picture is not entirely optimistic. Cancer remains the UK’s leading cause of death, accounting for around one in four fatalities. Survival improvements have also been uneven, with women seeing less progress than men despite generally higher survival rates. And although new diagnostic tools and therapies are promising, delays in diagnosis and treatment within the overstretched NHS remain a major barrier.
The report warns that the number of new cancer cases in the UK is projected to rise by nearly a third by 2040, reaching over half a million annually. CRUK’s chief executive Michelle Mitchell emphasizes that while advances in technology—like AI and genomics—are transforming cancer care, government action is urgently needed to meet the growing demand and improve outcomes faster.
In response, the Department of Health and Social Care highlighted recent progress under its “Plan for Change,” including diagnosing or ruling out cancer in an additional 90,000 patients since July. Still, experts say bolder steps are required to sustain and accelerate the UK's progress in cancer care.
