Publish date: 9 March 2023
Cheshire and Merseyside Cancer Alliance’s leader Jon Hayes has welcomed new figures which show that the NHS nationally is diagnosing more patients with cancer at an earlier stage than ever before.
Last year, between March 2021 and August 2022, 101,518 patients in England were diagnosed with cancer at stages one or two when it is easier to treat – the highest proportion on record.
This is leading to more people starting treatment than ever before, with 370,000 people beginning cancer treatment last year across the country.
Jon said: “Treating more people for cancer than ever before, and the NHS diagnosing a higher proportion of them at an early stage, is only possible due to the fantastic work of teams across the NHS, ensuring people receive the best possible care.
“We know fewer people came forward for cancer checks in the early stages of the pandemic, but thanks to the hard work of staff, we have now identified and caught up on those missing referrals, while more people are being diagnosed at an early stage than ever before, giving patients and their families the best chance of a successful outcome.”
Dame Cally Palmer, National Cancer Director for the NHS in England, said: “NHS staff continue to roll out new initiatives, from community scanning trucks to high street checks, making it as easy as possible for those most at risk to get vital, lifesaving tests. So, if you are worried you may have symptoms of cancer, please come forward and get checked.”
Minister for Health Helen Whately added: “Thanks to the hard work of the NHS, more patients are getting checked for cancer, and getting checked sooner. Early diagnosis means people have a better chance of successful treatment so this increase in cancer checks is really important.”