England recorded 373,574 new primary cancer diagnoses in 2024, while NHS England's August figures show the health service remained below targets for diagnosis and treatment times.
NHS England published the annual statistics Nov. 5. The 2024 count was 11,833 higher than the previous year's, averaging 1,021 diagnoses per day.
The 373,574 figure does not include basal cell carcinoma or cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma, both skin cancer types. Including them raises the 2024 total to 616,404. Prostate, breast, lung and bowel cancers together represented half of the diagnoses in the narrower count.
NHS England's August statistics showed that 78.6% met the 28-day diagnosis standard, below its 80% target. For the 62-day treatment standard, 71.9% met the target, compared with a goal of 85%.
The annual count measures diagnoses recorded during 2024; the August figures report performance against waiting-time standards. Cancer Research UK policy director Ian Walker told The Guardian that too many cancers were still being diagnosed at a late stage.
