Overview

• In a world first, NHS England has started offering tumour DNA blood tests for lung and breast cancer patients to fast-track personalised treatment plans.
• The service is set to deliver personalised mRNA vaccines to up to 10,000 patients over the next five years to boost responses against skin, bowel, lung, brain and pancreatic cancers.
• Immunotherapies that train the immune system to target cancer cells have become routine care for thousands of patients and are expanding across more cancer types.
• Only 15 of 147 NHS trusts meet the target of starting treatment for 85% of cancer patients within two months of diagnosis, exposing persistent regional disparities.
• Despite a 22% reduction in cancer mortality and doubled ten-year survival rates since the 1970s, record incidence driven by an aging population and lifestyle factors is straining NHS services and shaping a new National Cancer Plan.