Neuroendocrine Cancer UK, together with over 50 cancer charities, has co-signed the #OneCancerVoice joint letter to The Times, calling on the UK Government to fully fund the upcoming National Cancer Plan for England. This plan is a critical opportunity to improve cancer care and ensure that every patient receives the treatment they deserve, without delay.
A Crisis in Cancer Care
Recent analysis has revealed alarming statistics about cancer treatment delays in England:
- The percentage of patients starting cancer treatment within 62 days of an urgent referral has dropped from 83.9% in 2014 to just 61.6% in 2024.
- In 2023, 74,000 cancer patients did not begin treatment on time, leading to devastating consequences for individuals and families.
This crisis is exacerbated by:
- A shortage of cancer specialists and diagnostic equipment within the NHS.
- Outdated IT systems preventing streamlined care.
- Inconsistent access to cutting-edge research and innovative treatments.
Why Funding the National Cancer Plan is Essential
Wes Streeting, Shadow Health Secretary and cancer survivor, has spoken about his commitment to improving cancer survival rates in the UK. However, for the National Cancer Plan to be truly effective, it must:
✅ Prioritise investment in workforce recruitment and training.
✅ Ensure fast-tracked access to diagnosis and treatment.
✅ Support lifesaving research that brings forward new treatments.
Cancer Research UK’s chief executive and One Cancer Voice representative, Michelle Mitchell, said:
“Seventy-four thousand cancer patients waited longer than they should to start their treatment last year. Behind every one of these numbers is a family member, friend or loved one facing unbelievable stress and anxiety, where every day can feel like forever.
“Hardworking NHS staff are doing their best, and last year we saw a slight improvement in cancer waiting times from the year before. However, there is still a long way to go, and the UK Government must act.
“The National Cancer Plan can be a turning point for cancer patients across England, but the UK Government must invest in staff and equipment, alongside reforms, if it’s to hit all cancer waiting time targets by the end of this parliament. It’s the least that cancer patients deserve.”
It’s not always possible to determine how a delay to cancer treatment will impact on a patient’s outcome, as some cancers progress more quickly than others. There are also the psychological effects – waits cause major stress and anxiety for cancer patients and their loved ones.
Some cancer types see much longer waits on average for treatment – just over half of patients (56.0%) with lower gastrointestinal cancers, like bowel and anal, were treated on time in 2024, and less than 6 in 10 (59.1%) lung cancer patients were
On 30 January NHS England published their 2025/26 priorities and operational planning guidance, in which they outlined ambitions to hit an 80% target for the Faster Diagnosis Standard by 2025/26, compared to 77% in 2024/25, and a 75% interim target for the 62-day standard, compared to 70% in 2024/25
The 62-day pathway
According to CRUK, for the long waiters, the longest interval in this pathway was from referral to being informed of diagnosis. However, both home and global studies show that for those subsequently diagnosed with neuroendocrine cancer the wait starts at the first presentation stage:
“The point of suspicion marks a person’s entry into a patient care pathway.”
But if you don’t suspect how can you detect?
Many people are asymptomatic before being diagnosed with neuroendocrine cancer: but where symptoms do occur, the most frequent are non-specific and may be mistaken for those of more common conditions or experiences (e.g., irritable bowel syndrome, menopause). These challenges contribute to frequent misdiagnosis, inducing significant delays in an accurate diagnosis of up to 5 years or more.
Before receiving an NEN diagnosis, individuals in the UK visit their GP an average of 11 times over a mean period of 37 months.
At an already stressful time, lengthy waits for a cancer diagnosis and treatment can impact negatively on a patient’s experience and mental health:
Delays have important ramifications – not just for the individual but also healthcare services; some studies have suggested that delays of even a few weeks could significantly impact cancer mortality for some cancer types.
In neuroendocrine cancer it can mean the difference between cure or lifelong incurable disease: less than 20% (1 in 5) are diagnosed at Stage 1 (early disease).
In England, Neuroendocrine Cancer is now the 13th most prevalent cancer in women, and 14th most prevalent in men.
We know that cancer, diagnosed and treated at an early stage, when it isn’t too large and hasn’t spread, is more likely to be treated successfully. Prompt diagnosis and treatment underpin this, so it’s important to get cancer waiting times back on track.
Cancer Research UK recently published A Full Diagnostic in which they outline the current state of play of diagnostics in England and also highlight the steps needed to deliver a world-class cancer service. This echoes recommendations proposed in Neuroendocrine Cancer UK’s “Ideal Pathway” – can be read HERE (can be applied across many rare/less common cancers).
Beating cancer means beating it for everyone
. . . just under 50% of all cancers will fall under the rare or less common cancer umbrella, yet account for more than 50% of all cancer deaths (and the mortality rate is rising). This cannot be allowed to continue.
#OneCancerVoice
#OneCancerVoice: A Unified Call for Action
Over 50 cancer charities, including Neuroendocrine Cancer UK, Cancer Research UK, Macmillan Cancer Support, Blood Cancer UK, and Prostate Cancer UK, are united in calling for urgent action. Their message is clear:
The UK Government must listen to patients, experts, and researchers to make this plan truly transformative. Every delay in treatment risks lives. Immediate investment is needed to ensure faster diagnoses, better care, and improved survival rates.
What You Can Do
We need your support to amplify this message. Join the call for action by:
- Sharing this story using #OneCancerVoice.
- Engaging with the letter to The Times and supporting its recommendations.
- Keeping up to date with the latest cancer policy developments.
Together, we can make a difference in the fight against cancer.
References:
- Neuroendocrine neoplasms: Consensus on a patient care pathway; read HERE
- Neuroendocrine Cancer UK’s “Ideal Pathway” – can be read HERE
- NDRS (2021) Prevalence data: available at https://nhsd-ndrs.shinyapps.io/prevalence/
- White et al (2022) Incidence and survival of neuroendocrine neoplasia in England 1995−2018: A retrospective, population-based study The Lancet Regional Health – Europe.