UK cancer cases reach record high - with a diagnosis every 80 seconds

The number of cancer cases in the UK has reached a record high, according to a report.

More than 403,000 people are now diagnosed with a form of the disease every year, the report says. That is the equivalent of approximately one person every 80 seconds.

Cancer Research UK's report attributes the rise to an "ageing and growing population". Rates have risen by 15% since the early 1990s – partly due to factors like obesity.

Michelle Mitchell, the charity'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."

She added that the government's recently published National Cancer Plan "could make a big difference, but only if it turns into improvements for cancer patients".

Read more: Is new cancer strategy bold enough?

The Cancer in the UK Report 2026 describes the National Cancer Plan for England as a crucial step towards improving cancer care but says "there needed to be funding and resources to translate ambition into impact".

The charity warns urgent action is needed on early diagnosis and is concerned that just over half of patients in the UK are diagnosed at an early stage, noting this figure has barely changed in recent years.

It recommends rolling out lung screening widely to catch as many as 7,800 additional cancer cases per year – if the programmes in England were optimised.

Cancer Research UK also calls for improvements to cancer prevention, saying it is "essential" that the Tobacco and Vapes Bill – becoming law soon – be "effectively implemented". It will ban anyone born after 2008 from smoking.

The charity also suggests investing in specialist staff and equipment to tackle waiting times – with around 107,000 patients waiting more than 62 days to start treatment in 2025.

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A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: "We have delivered a record number of diagnostic tests in the last 12 months, backed by an extra £26 billion for the NHS – and the number of patients getting a cancer diagnosis or all-clear on time is the highest in five years – but we are not complacent.

"Our National Cancer Plan sets out how patients will receive a diagnosis faster, treatment sooner and better support to live well with cancer, with the aim of 75% of patients diagnosed from 2035 to be cancer-free or living well after five years.

"Our historic Tobacco and Vapes Bill, which is due to come into law soon, will also protect future generations from cancer."

(c) Sky News 2026: UK cancer cases reach record high - with a diagnosis every 80 seconds