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More cancers are being detected earlier in England, thanks to a major drive by the NHS encouraging people, particularly those at higher risk due to hereditary or lifestyle factors, to come forward for potentially life-saving screenings. According to a new NHS analysis, early cancer diagnosis in England has reached its highest level ever. The NHS data of the most common cancers, including breast, prostate, and lung cancer, shows that almost three in five patients are now being diagnosed at stages one or two, when the cancer is more treatable. More than 58 per cent of all common cancers (206,038) diagnosed between September 2023 and August 2024 were identified at an early stage. This marks a 2.7 percentage point improvement compared to pre-pandemic levels, equating to an estimated 7,000 more patients being diagnosed at an early stage. The NHS has introduced initiatives like the Targeted Lung Health Check (TLHC) and Liver Health Programmes to detect cancers earlier.

NHS chief executive Amanda Pritchard today (March 1) announced a new campaign to promote early detection of cancer, when it is easier to treat. The campaign, which would run across TV, radio, and social media from Wednesday (March 2), is the first to focus on tackling the fear of cancer rather thanspecific symptoms. It is in line with the NHS Long Term Plan's commitment to increase cancer detection at an early stage by 2028. As per the NHS figures, the number of people getting checked for cancer increased by over half a million between December 2020 and December 2021. Speaking ahead of the launch, Pritchard, said: "We know that the prospect of a cancer diagnosis can be daunting for people and that is exactly why we are launching this potentially lifesaving campaign - we want to allay people's fear about cancer and encourage them to get checked without delay.