Cancer diagnoses hit record high in England as over 373,000 cases recorded in 2024

Cancer diagnoses in England have reached a record high, with more than 373,000 people diagnosed in 2024, according to figures from the National Health Service (NHS).

The statistics show that an average of 1,021 people were diagnosed with cancer daily, compared with 972 per day in 2023.

Prostate, breast, lung and bowel cancers accounted for half of all newly recorded cases.

The figures also revealed a slight improvement in early detection, with 56.7 per cent of new cancer cases identified at stages one and two in 2024, compared with 55.8 per cent in the previous year.

However, health experts warned that the NHS continues to fall short of its cancer diagnosis and treatment targets.

In August, 78.6 per cent of patients urgently referred for suspected cancer received a diagnosis or had the disease ruled out within 28 days, below the NHS target of 80 per cent.

Similarly, only 71.9 per cent of patients began treatment within 62 days of an urgent referral or consultant upgrade, falling short of the 85 per cent target.

NHS national clinical director for cancer, Professor Peter Johnson, described the progress as encouraging, crediting healthcare workers and efforts to make cancer tests more accessible to patients.

However, Cancer Research UK's policy director, Dr Ian Walker, warned that too many patients were still being diagnosed at advanced stages, calling for increased government support, more specialist staff and improved medical equipment.

Dr Hilary Williams of the Royal College of Physicians also identified ageing and obesity as factors contributing to the rising number of cases, urging greater investment in prevention and early detection.

Meanwhile, Macmillan Cancer Support warned that inequalities associated with people's backgrounds and locations continued to affect their chances of receiving timely diagnoses and surviving the disease.

Breast Cancer Now also emphasised the importance of early checks, noting that one in seven women will develop breast cancer during their lifetime.