With UK cancer waiting lists at an all-time high, leading cancer experts are calling for the urgent reinstatement of a national cancer control plan (NCCP) that could potentially save thousands of lives each year.

At present, more than 1 in 3 people throughout the UK are waiting over 62 days for lifesaving cancer treatment, substantially decreasing their chance of survival.

This evidence is highlighted in a paper published in The Lancet Oncology, led by Professor Mark Lawler, Professor of Digital Health at Queen’s University Belfast and Chair of the International Cancer Benchmarking Partnership.

A 10-Year Cancer Plan was announced by UK Government in 2022, however was soon after discarded as a Major Conditions Strategy was introduced instead. Professor Lawler, along with other leading cancer experts, are calling for cancer care to be placed back at the top of the government’s political agenda.

Professor Lawler commented: “Cancer is our most feared diagnosis, affecting 1 in 2 of us in our lifetime. We’re at a critical moment for cancer care in the UK. Will we stand by as cancer outcomes continue to decline and patients die who could have been saved, or will we take decisive steps to fix this crisis?

“Our research shows that countries with dedicated cancer plans and consistently implemented policies achieve better survival rates. If there was ever a time to act and ensure the UK leads in cancer care rather than lagging, it is now. It is utterly incomprehensible that a country like ours does not have a NCCP. The current Government may have inherited this problem from the last one, but it's like being handed a ticking time bomb.

“Northern Ireland is of at the bottom of the international league table for cancer policy consistency. Thankfully, Northern Ireland’s Health Minister, Mike Nesbitt, has recognised that cancer needs to take precedence going forward.

“I urge the Government to work with us, harness the solutions we know can make a real difference, and deliver the cancer plan that this country urgently needs. We need a cancer service fit for the future, and we need it now.”

Professor Lawler was among other professionals who recently presented key evidence to the Health and Social Care Select Committee Future Cancer Inquiry at Westminster, with the reinstatement of an innovative and strategic NCCP the crucial recommendation.

Speaking on the Inquiry, Professor Lawler said: “Research was another critical area of focus, highlighting that the UK is at risk of losing its global cancer research reputation, this needs to be rectified immediately. Research is not a luxury, it is a vital part of how we deliver the most up to date cancer care for our patients.

“We have an opportunity to significantly turn the tide on cancer, but we must act quickly and decisively. The strategy employed to date is clearly flawed and now is the time to reset and get it right. Let us be leaders again, not laggers.”

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