Cancer cases in England hit record high – with almost 1,000 people diagnosed every day

Cancer cases have hit a record high, with almost 1,000 people a day diagnosed, according to latest NHS figures.

There were 346,217 diagnoses in England throughout 2022 – 5 per cent higher than the 329,664 recorded in 2021.

The rise was largely due to an increase in detection of prostate cancer, with cases up by more than a quarter to 54,732.

The Cancer Registration Statistics show a 7 per cent increase in overall cancer cases among men in 2022, from 167,917 to 180,877. In women, it was a 2 per cent rise, from 161,747 to 165,340.

‘Our work is leading to more people starting treatment promptly – potentially saving lives,’ said Dame Cally Palmer of NHS England

Prostate cancer was the most commonly diagnosed cancer in 2022, and more than half (51 per cent) of all new cases were for either that, breast, lung or bowel cancer. NHS England said the higher figures are likely to be partly due to campaigns after the pandemic urging people to get checks they had missed.

It also said death rates from cancer are falling, from 345 deaths per 100,000 men in 2011 to 299 per 100,000 in 2022 and in women from 237 deaths per 100,000 in 2011 to 212 deaths per 100,000 in 2022.

Dame Cally Palmer, national cancer director at NHS England, said: ‘Our work is leading to more people starting treatment promptly – potentially saving lives.

‘Some still wait too long to receive a diagnosis or the all-clear, and there is more to do to ensure all patients receive high quality and timely care.’

Figures show 75.5 per cent of patients urgently referred for suspected cancer in August were diagnosed or had it ruled out within 28 days.