We spent over £31m in 2023/24.
Cancer deaths have fallen by almost a tenth in the last 10 years.
Around two-thirds (67%) of adults are overweight or obese.
Around 34,600 people are diagnosed with cancer each year.
Almost 6 in 10 (55%) of cancers with a known stage are diagnosed early.
More than a fifth (21.9%) of children are overweight or obese.
Around 16,300 people die from cancer each year.
3 in 20 (15%) of adults smoke.
Two-thirds (66.1%) of people aged 60-74 have taken part in bowel screening.
Cancer Research UK is the world’s largest charity dedicated to saving lives through research. CRUK spent around £31 million in Scotland in 2023/24.
We made our largest ever single investment in Scotland in 2023, of up to £123m as part of a seven-year commitment to the Cancer Research UK Scotland Institute (formerly known as the Cancer Research UK Beatson Institute).
Cancer remains Scotland’s biggest killer. While notable progress has been made in improving survival rates, the incidence of cancer continues to grow, outcomes across Scotland show that cancer-related deaths are 74% higher in the most deprived population than the least deprived.
These major and persistent health inequalities in Scotland show that we must act to ensure everyone has the best chance of their cancer being diagnosed at the earliest stages, when their chances of survival are better. This is achieved by bold government action that enables all people to live healthier lives if we are to reduce cancer inequalities.
1 in 2 of us will be diagnosed with cancer during our lifetime. Therefore, cancer prevention, diagnosis, treatment and care must remain a top priority for our government and health service.
Health is a devolved matter in Scotland. This means decisions about health policy are made by the Scottish Government and the Scottish Parliament. That is why we work closely alongside the Scottish Government and the 129 Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs), advising on cancer and research issues and campaigning for prevention measures and early detection services.
Campaigned for and helped shape the new 10-year cancer strategy that commits to improve cancer survival and provide excellent, equitably accessible care. Aiming that, by 2033, cancer survival will have improved, particularly amongst the currently less survivable cancers such as lung cancer.
Investigated the sleep cycles of brain tumour cells; Professor Steven Pollard is leading an international team of scientists who want to understand exactly how brain tumour cells behave in sleep cycles. Potentially designing life-saving new therapies that either keep the cancer cells sleeping forever or force them into a waking state so they can be targeted by treatment.
Studied the biology of blood cancers, Dr Kasper Rasmussen is studying the epigenome of blood cancers, which researches the many chemical compounds that tell genes what to do, and when something goes wrong in this process, it can lead to cancer.
Researched for molecular clues to detect pancreatic cancer earlier, Professor Kevin Ryan in Glasgow is looking for molecular clues or ‘markers’ in samples of blood and urine that could be used to detect early pancreatic cancer. These markers will then be validated by comparing patient samples to healthy samples. To avoid symptoms of pancreatic cancer being easily mistaken for other less serious conditions and therefore being treated earlier.
Hold the Secretariat for the Cross-Party Group (CPG) on Cancer, and co-hosting the annual Scottish Cancer Conference
Hold the Chair and the Secretariat for the Scottish Cancer Coalition Who we are – The Scottish Cancer Coalition
Cancer in the UK: Deprivation and cancer inequalities in Scotland.(PDF, 1.81 MB)
£42 million invested in life-saving research
2,360 people volunteered in 83 shops, raising £13.5m
50 local groups and committees raised £687k
28,833 participants raised £1.74m at 29 CRUK events
Media volunteers are at the heart of helping Cancer Research UK raise awareness of our work in Scotland. By sharing personal experiences, our volunteers also inspire others to support us.
If you have a cancer experience and would feel comfortable with details appearing in a newspaper, online, radio, TV, magazines or on social media then we’d be grateful if you could complete our Share Your Story form
Everyone’s story is important. By becoming a media volunteer, you can:
help highlight the experiences of real people affected by cancer.
raise awareness of symptoms and help with cancer prevention.
give inspiration and hope to other people affected by cancer.
inspire others to fundraise for Cancer Research UK.
Once you have filled out the form, your details will be stored on a secure database. We won’t share any of your details without your permission and a member of experienced staff will contact you directly if a suitable media opportunity arises.
Campaigns Ambassadors play a critical role in our mission to beat cancer sooner. They save lives by persuading politicians to support cancer research, prevention, early diagnosis and access to treatments.
You can be part of a determined group that have made significant changes to the Scotland’s health and we won’t stop there.
Our successes have included:
Ending smoking in enclosed work and public places.
Securing the introduction of plain tobacco packing
Campaigned for the 2016-21 cancer strategy that committed £100 million to improve cancer care in Scotland
This is a flexible, home-based volunteering role, which can fit around your current commitments.
Become an Ambassador todayCancer in the UK: Scotland Overview 2024(PDF, 228 KB)
Cancer in the UK: Deprivation and cancer inequalities in Scotland (November 2022)(PDF, 1.81 MB)
Cancer Research UK Response to a new Cancer Strategy for Scotland (June 2022)(PDF, 1.24 MB)
Cancer Research UK Response to a new Cancer Strategy for Scotland - executive summary (June 2022)(PDF, 280 KB)
Submission to the Scottish Health and Sport Committee medicines inquiry (November 2019)(PDF, 175 KB)
Bench to Bedside: Optimising Medical Research in Scotland through Collaboration – Full Report (April 2019)(PDF, 1.11 MB)
Bench to Bedside: Optimising Medical Research in Scotland through Collaboration – Executive Summary (April 2019)(PDF, 504 KB)
Where next for cancer services in Scotland (June 2017) - exec summary(link is external)(PDF, 470 KB)
Where next for cancer services in Scotland (June 2017) - full report(PDF, 1.44 MB)
If you would like to find out about our priorities in Scotland please get in touch. We’re keen to work with MSPs and provide them with the tools needed to keep cancer on the agenda.
Twitter: @CRUKScotland
23 April 2025
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