England cancer diagnoses reach record high of 1,000 daily

New data from the National Health Service (NHS) shows that cancer diagnoses in England reached a record high in 2024, with 373,574 new cases reported. This averages to approximately 1,021 people diagnosed per day, up from 972 per day in 2023.

Prostate, breast, lung, and colorectal cancers accounted for half of all new diagnoses. Prostate cancer remains the most common, with 61,115 cases, representing a 4.1 percent increase. While there has been a slight increase in early-stage detection, with 56.7 percent of cases identified in stages one or two, health officials and charities expressed concern over systemic delays.

The NHS continues to miss key performance targets. In August, 78.6 percent of patients referred for urgent testing received a diagnosis or were cleared within 28 days, falling short of the 80 percent goal. Additionally, only 71.9 percent of patients began treatment within 62 days of an urgent referral, missing the 85 percent target. Experts attribute the rising numbers to an aging population and obesity, while calling for increased government support to improve specialist staffing and equipment.