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Cancer - The Progress

Working to achieve the Government’s target of reducing the death rate for cancer by 20% in people under 75 by 2010, good progress has been made recently in this country to tackle cancer with a reduction of more than 12% among people under 75 years between 1995 – 1997 and 2001 – 2003. The death rates for female breast cancer and male lung cancer are falling more quickly than anywhere else in the world, despite a significant rise in the number of newly diagnosed patients with breast cancer.

Cancer - The Facts

Cancer is a major health issue in the UK; one in three people will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime, and one in four will die of cancer.

Some 275,000 people were newly diagnosed in 2002. However, cancer survival rates are also increasing with an 11% reduction since 1994/5. Around 154,000 people died of cancer in 2003.

The four most common cancers (breast, lung, colorectal and bowel) accounted for just under half of the deaths from cancer (excluding non melanoma skin cancer)

(Source: Cancer Research UK May 2006)

Welcome to the NHS Cancer Programme for England


Professor Mike Richards

The NHS Cancer Programme for England web portal has been designed to assist you in finding the cancer related information you need quickly and easily from one central resource. This website provides links to some of the major areas of work and services for patients, the general public, NHS staff and other healthcare professionals involved in cancer care.

Professor Mike Richards
National Cancer Director


Launch of the National Cancer Intelligence Network

In line with the commitments in the Cancer Reform Strategy, the National Cancer Intelligence Network (NCIN) was launched in June 2008.


NHS Cancer Reform Strategy

The Cancer Reform Strategy builds on the progress made since the publication of the NHS Cancer Plan in 2000 and sets a clear direction for cancer services for the next five years. It shows how by 2012 our cancer services can and should become among the best in the world.


Radiotherapy- developing a world class service

The NRAG report sets out the commitment to providing world class radiotherapy. This is recognised and supported in the Cancer Reform Strategy. This section describes the work underway, its progress and actions required to deliver a World Class Radiotherapy Service.


Getting it right for people with cancer - Clinical case for change

Report by Professor Mike Richards, National Cancer Director. This page opens in a new window
The National Cancer Director outlines how services are being configured to meet the needs of cancer patients.


  NHS Cancer Websites

NHS Improvement - Cancer
Cancer Improvement supports local organisations and clinical teams to look at the services they offer to patients. Working together, the aim is to make significant improvements by streamlining and redesigning the way that cancer care is delivered to patients to improve the patient experience and support the delivery of the Cancer Reform Strategy. This page opens in a new window

Cancer Services Peer Review – CQuINS
The online tool for the quality improvement of cancer care through self assessment and peer review. This page opens in a new window

Department of Health
Containing the Government’s major policies for cancer services.This page opens in a new window

End of Life Care Programme
To improve the quality of care at the end of life for all patients and enable more patients to live and die in the place of their choice.This page opens in a new window

Information for patients, carers and health professionals
Information already being produced by national organisations has now been collated together by tumour type and at each stage in the patient pathway. In addition, cancer networks are populating local electronic patient information pathways with their locally produced leaflets and booklets. This page opens in a new window

National Cancer Research Institute (NCRI)
NCRI is a partnership between government, charity and private sector organisations; its primary mission is to maximise the patient benefit from cancer research in the UK. This page opens in a new window

National Cancer Research Network (NCRN)
Providing the NHS with the infrastructure to support cancer clinical trials in England. Our aim is to improve the speed, quality and integration of research with the ultimate aim of improving patient care. This page opens in a new window

NHS Cancer Networks
Contains all of the contact details for the NHS Cancer Networks.

NHS Cancer Screening Programmes
Providing well-established cervical and breast screening programmes. Bowel screening services have recently been approved for national provision. This page opens in a new window

NHS National Library for Health
The Cancer Specialist Library is a unique resource developed to support busy health professionals find the cancer information they need to keep up-to-date. It is one of 25 Specialist Libraries containing collections of clinical and non-clinical resources within specialty themes. This page opens in a new window

Cancer Related Organisations and Charities
Providing a wealth of information about cancer, cancer care, prevention, research, and support.