Overview
- Cancer Research UK’s analysis of October 2021 to June 2024 shows 53.8% of people who actually had cancer were diagnosed within 28 days, compared with 71.7% who had cancer ruled out, with the combined outcome rate at 70.6% against a 75% target.
- Timely diagnoses for people with cancer deteriorated over the period, falling from 57.3% in late 2021 to 52.3% by mid-2024.
- Performance varies sharply by cancer type, with about 83% of testicular cancer cases meeting the 28-day mark versus roughly 29% for urological cancers, 31.4% for sarcomas and 34.6% for head and neck cancers.
- More than half of patients diagnosed after a urological referral (54.6%) waited over 42 days for a diagnosis, highlighting longer waits for some tumour groups.
- Officials plan to raise the Faster Diagnosis Standard to 80% by March 2026, while Cancer Research UK urges a ‘cancer guarantee’ and investment in staff, equipment and reform to speed diagnoses.