Experts fear that thousands of patients could die unnecessarily if the NHS doesn’t address the extensive treatment delays revealed in recent analysis. 

The figures by Radiotherapy UK showed over half a million cancer patients had to wait more than two months for crucial cancer treatment in the decade leading up to November 2024.

Previous research published in the BMJ suggested that a one-month delay in treatment could result in a 13% higher chance of death for the patient, a risk that continues to escalate until they receive treatment.

The NHS has set a target to commence treatment within 62 days for 85% of cancer patients, a goal that has been in place since December 2015. However, currently, only 69% of patients’ treatments meet this deadline, as reported by  The Guardian.

On Tuesday, February 4, the Department of Health and Social Care is due to relaunch the government’s cancer plan.

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson told Reach: “From research, to prevention, screening, diagnosis and treatment, this government is going to transform cancer care, catapulting it into the modern day and making it fit for purpose.

“The reforms we are making will see around 120,000 more people referred for urgent cancer checks get a diagnosis within four weeks and start treatment within two months. We will also deliver two million extra appointments in our first year in office, while investing an extra £1.5 billion in new surgical hubs and AI scanners to help catch more cancers faster.”

Opinions are split among experts regarding the potential impact of the plan, especially after NHS England abandoned their diagnosis targets.

Initially, the health service aimed to diagnose 75% of cancers at stage 1 or 2, but Health Secretary Wes Streeting confessed to the Health Service Journal that the government is presently unable to commit to meeting national cancer targets.

Professor Pat Price, chair of Radiotherapy UK and oncologist, argued that the statistics demonstrate “unacceptably low ambitions”, normalising hazardous delays that may result in thousands of unnecessary deaths.

He appealed for a refreshed cancer plan that is “brave and bold”, cautioning that failure to do so would lead to more avoidable deaths.

Michelle Mitchell, chief executive of Cancer Research UK, echoed this sentiment, urging the government to increase its aspirations for both earlier diagnosis and enhanced treatment.

She stressed: “This is key to ensuring that everyone can live longer, better lives, free from the fear of cancer.”

An NHS spokesperson stated: “Thanks to the work of NHS staff, more people than ever before are being diagnosed at an early stage of cancer when there are more treatment options – and survival has never been higher.

“Performance against all three cancer waiting times standards is higher than a year ago, with the most recent data showing that 77% of people referred urgently for tests by their GP received a diagnosis or ruling out of cancer within 28 days, and over 90% of people started treatment within a month. But there is much more to do to ensure more people receive timely diagnosis and treatment for cancer, and we are committed to working with the Government to improve both waiting times and experience of care.”