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The number of patients being diagnosed with cancer at an early stage in England has risen to its highest level, according to NHS analysis.
The latest data, which focuses on 13 of the most common cancers, such as breast, prostate and lung cancer, shows nearly three in five patients are being diagnosed at stages one or two, when cancer is easier to treat.
The NHS said the news followed an initiative over the past two years to encourage millions of people to come forward for potentially life-saving checks.
This includes those who may be at a higher risk because of hereditary or lifestyle factors.
Data shows 58.7% of common cancers diagnosed between September 2023 and August 2024 were identified at an early stage.
The NHS said this marked an improvement of 2.7 percentage points on pre-pandemic levels, equating to about 7,000 additional patients diagnosed at an early stage.
NHS England’s national cancer director, Cally Palmer, said: “Lives are saved when cancers are caught early, and following a major drive on early detection in recent years, it’s really encouraging to see more people than ever are now being diagnosed at an earlier stage.
“There is still much more to do to save more lives and we will not let up in our efforts to catch more cancers earlier, where treatment is more likely to be successful.
“NHS teams across the country are continuing to take tests and checks closer to people who need them, and with new treatments being made available all the time, we will continue to do all we can to get people seen and treated for cancer as early as possible.”
The targeted lung health check (TLHC) and liver health programmes are among the initiatives the NHS has introduced to help catch more cancers earlier.
Under these programmes, hi-tech mobile scanning trucks and vans go into communities to offer in-depth checks to people at shopping centres, sports stadiums, food banks and supermarket car parks.
Data shows more than 5,000 people have been diagnosed with lung cancer earlier via the TLHC programme since it was launched in 2019.
Paul Nelson, 72, from Birkenhead, had no symptoms when he went for a TLHC check, but a scan found lung cancer.
Recalling the moment he was diagnosed, he said: ”That first scan gave me a chance of life. I had no symptoms whatsoever and was fit and healthy, so I was devastated when they told me it was cancer.
“I’ve never had any problems with my chest but I was given the check and then offered the scan, so I thought, why not? I am so glad I went.
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“This has now been caught early enough for treatment. If things had been left for a few more months it could have been very different.
“I have spoken with several friends and former colleagues who have put off having the check after being offered it. I’ve told them that they need to go.
“Why wouldn’t you have a free checkup if it can spot something early? If this can happen to me when I was so healthy, it can happen to anyone.”
Analysis also shows more people than ever were tested for cancer over the past year.
More than 3 million people were seen for urgent cancer checks from November 2023 to October 2024, which is up by more than 100,000 on the same period the year before, and up by more than 700,000 on the same period five years ago – before the Covid pandemic.
NHS England’s national clinical director for cancer, Prof Peter Johnson, said: “As we all live longer and the number of people developing cancer continues to rise, the NHS is diagnosing more cancers than ever before.
“Our work to raise awareness, help to warn those at risk and encourage people to come forward for checks is vital to make sure people can get treatment promptly. Talking about cancer helps save lives too so, if you’re seeing friends and loved ones this new year, please check in with them and have a conversation.
“If anyone is worried they might have signs or symptoms of cancer, please encourage them to get checked. The NHS is here for people and wants to see them at the earliest opportunity.”
