News
NHS gives GP teams direct access to tests to speed up cancer diagnosis
Tens of thousands of cancers could be detected sooner each year thanks to a national roll out of fast-track testing, NHS chief executive Amanda Pritchard will announce today. NHS England is expanding direct access to diagnostic scans across all GP practices, helping cut waiting times and speeding up a cancer diagnosis or all-clear for patients. […]
NHS catching more cancers earlier than ever before
The NHS is diagnosing more patients with cancer at an earlier stage than ever before, according to new analysis. Last year (2021-2022), over 100,000 (100,461) patients were diagnosed with cancer at stages one or two when it is easier to treat – the highest proportion on record. Record numbers of people are getting checked for […]
NHS strikes deal for potentially life-saving breast cancer drug
The NHS will roll out an innovative, potentially life-saving treatment for one of the most aggressive forms of breast cancer thanks to a new drug deal. Up to 1,600 women a year affected by high risk triple-negative breast cancer are set to benefit from the confidential deal struck by the NHS and the manufacturer. Pembrolizumab […]
NHS prostate cancer treatments surge in England
The number of men having treatment for prostate cancer has jumped by more than a quarter in England in one year, new NHS figures show today. Almost 4,000 men received prostate cancer treatment in August (3,898) compared to just over 3,000 in the same month last year (3,057). Announcing the increase, NHS Chief Executive, Amanda […]
NHS delivers record number of lifesaving cancer checks as long waits for care continue to fall
More people than ever before received a lifesaving NHS cancer check in August alongside continued progress against the elective recovery plan, new figures show today. Over a quarter of a million people (255,055) were checked following an urgent GP referral in August – the highest number since records began. Thanks to NHS awareness raising campaigns […]
NHS launches awareness drive as ‘giant lung roadshow’ targets England’s cancer hotspots
The NHS will be touring England’s lung cancer hotspots with giant inflatable lungs and specialist teams of volunteers, in a bid to catch more cancers early and giving the best chance of successful treatment. Thousands of people are expected to see the 12 foot-high lungs in communities across the country – including in supermarkets, shopping […]
NHS expands lifesaving home testing kits for bowel cancer
Home-testing kits that can help detect early-stage bowel cancer will be rolled out to 58-year-olds in England for the first time, as part of a major expansion of the lifesaving screening programme. People aged 58 years will be automatically sent a Faecal Immunochemical Test (FIT) once eligible, which can detect early signs of bowel cancer […]
NHS checks for bowel cancer hit record-high thanks to Dame Deborah
Record numbers of people have come forward for bowel cancer checks thanks to lifesaving awareness raising by Dame Deborah James, the NHS said today. Between the months of May and July, referrals for suspected lower gastro-intestinal cancers reached record levels, with over 170,500 people referred for checks during that period – up over 30,000 compared […]
NHS launches awareness campaign for England’s most deadly cancer
The NHS is encouraging people with symptoms such as a long-standing persistent cough, to visit their GP for potentially lifesaving checks in its latest campaign to catch lung cancer earlier when it is easier to treat. The launch of the latest Help Us Help You campaign, on World Lung Cancer Day, comes after figures suggest that […]
Army of volunteers join NHS trial to spot deadly cancers
Over 140,000 people have flocked to take part in the world’s largest trial of a blood test that can detect more than 50 types of cancer, as part of the latest NHS drive to catch the disease when it is generally easiest to treat. NHS chief executive Amanda Pritchard announced the latest milestone in NHS […]