One person diagnosed every 80 seconds as disease reaches record high

One person diagnosed every 80 seconds as disease reaches record highThe NHS is 'struggling to cope' with the demandCommentsNewsNeil Shaw Assistant Editor (Money and Lifestyle)06:30, 23 Apr 2026View 3 ImagesIncidences have risen to 620 per 100,000 people in a decadeCancer cases have reached a record level in the UK, with around one person diagnosed every 80 seconds, figures suggest. Analysis by Cancer Research UK shows more than 403,000 people are diagnosed with the disease every year, largely due to a growing and ageing population, with people more likely to develop the disease as they age.‌The charity warned that NHS services are struggling to cope with rising demand, with cancer waiting times across the UK among the worst on record. Its new Cancer in the UK Report 2026 shows incidences have risen to 620 per 100,000 people in a decade (from 610), while cases diagnosed at an early stage have barely changed (from 54% to 55%).‌Death rates have fallen and the proportion of people surviving a decade or more has risen, but Cancer Research UK said this progress is at risk of stalling, in part due to pressure on cancer services. It said the Government’s recently published National Cancer Plan for England is a “crucial step” towards improving care, but there needs to be “funding and resources to translate ambition into impact”.‌View 3 ImagesDeath rates have fallen and the proportion of people surviving a decade or more has risenMichelle Mitchell, Cancer Research UK’s chief executive, said: “More people are being diagnosed with cancer than ever before. Although cancer survival has doubled since the 1970s, progress has slowed over the last decade.“The UK Government’s recently published National Cancer Plan for England could make a big difference, but only if it turns into improvements for cancer patients. Publishing the plan is not a ‘job done’ on cancer: ambitions to diagnose cancers earlier, meet cancer wait targets and improve best practice treatment must happen...