Turning evidence into impact: A decade of saving and improving lives

When people, policy and research come together, our work today can transform lives tomorrow.

- Dr Ian Walker, Executive Director of Policy, Information and Communications

Ending cancers caused by smoking

Through decades of campaigning, including our recent Smokefree UK work, we've driven historic advances towards a smokefree future for the UK.

With the help of our supporters, partners and Campaigns Ambassadors, we’re celebrating the passing of the Tobacco and Vapes Act in full across the UK. This is one of the biggest milestones on our journey towards a smokefree UK.

The impact:

If the act has the impact the UK Government hopes, by 2040, up to 10 million fewer cigarettes will be smoked each day in the UK – that’s equal to a trail of cigarettes running between London and Glasgow.   

By putting this law into action, my children’s children will never be sold cigarettes legally in the UK. That’s generational transformation.

- Gower Tan, Campaigns Ambassador, pictured with his daughter and her partner

Helping to roll out the world’s first preventative cancer vaccine

By working with partners across the globe to roll out the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, we’re helping to bring about a world where almost no one develops cervical cancer.

Our research helped pave the way for the rollout of HPV vaccination programmes across the UK. And alongside others, we worked to make sure all children in the UK aged 11 to 13 are now offered the vaccine. Globally, we’re partnering with organisations in countries such as India, Eswatini and Nepal to help the vaccine reach some of the world’s most at-risk communities for cervical cancer.

The impact:

Research we funded has shown the HPV vaccine is expected to prevent up to 90% of cervical cancer cases in the UK. 

Calling for a cancer workforce that delivers

We’ve been at the heart of efforts to get the UK Government to invest in the NHS cancer workforce and equipment, collaborating with others across the cancer community.

We’re proud to be behind a steady series of successes, where governments have invested in the staff, skills and equipment needed for cancer care. From our #CancerWontWait campaign, highlighting the impact of NHS staff shortages on cancer care, to gathering around 36,000 signatures to help secure a £250m government investment in two cutting-edge radiotherapy units, we won’t stop until we have a cancer workforce that’s equipped to deliver.

The impact:

In 2020, thanks in part to our campaigns, collaboration and evidence, the UK Government announced an extra £260m to help grow the NHS workforce.   

Proving the power of early detection and diagnosis

We’ve helped save lives by pushing for early detection and diagnosis across all four UK nations and every cancer type.

We’ve also identified specific cancers where we can intervene to improve early detection and diagnosis across the pathway – from someone taking part in screening or noticing a symptom through to diagnosis or cancer being ruled out.

The impact:

Our evidence helped lead to the introduction of the Faecal Immunochemical Test (FIT) across the UK, which is able to detect more bowel cancer cases early and is easier to use than the previous test. The rollout of FIT in Scotland in 2017 saw bowel screening uptake rise above the programme target of 60% for the first time. 

Spotting lung cancer sooner

2019

Targeted lung screening pilot launched in England.

2022

The UK National Screening Committee recommends targeted lung screening in all four UK nations.

After international trials demonstrated a targeted lung cancer screening programme would lead to better outcomes for people affected by cancer, we worked with the lung cancer community and UK National Screening Committee to review and translate the research, putting evidence into action.

In England, targeted lung screening is already helping to diagnose more lung cancers at an earlier stage, when treatment is more likely to be successful. It’s also helping to reduce inequalities in cancer outcomes. Since launching in 2019, more than a third of lung cancer cases in people living in some of the most deprived areas in England have been diagnosed at an earlier stage than they would’ve been before the screening pilot.

Answering your questions about cancer

As a leading UK provider of information about cancer, our support is there to reach people wherever they need it, whenever they need it – whether that’s online, over the phone, in print or in person.

Our information helps people reduce their cancer risk, seek help with any health concerns and navigate tests and treatments. From our online About Cancer website, Cancer Chat forum and clinical trials database to our nurse helpline, printed resources and Cancer Awareness Roadshow, our trusted and accessible health and patient information reaches tens of millions of people every year.

Impact:

Our About Cancer website is viewed around 40 million times each year. It contains more than 3,000 pages of information about 95% of cancer types.

In May 2020, I was diagnosed with breast cancer during a global pandemic. Finding information I could trust was so important. Cancer Research UK’s About Cancer webpages became my go-to source, as I felt they respected me and understood what I was experiencing.

- Jo from Lancaster

Pushing cancer up the political agenda

We’ve continued to push for long-term strategies to beat cancer, urging successive governments to act so that people get the cancer care they deserve.

In 2024, we campaigned tirelessly for the UK Government to commit to a new 10-year cancer strategy for England. And in October 2024, they did. Since then, we’ve been working hard to make sure the plan is ambitious and has people affected by cancer at its heart.

The impact:

The National Cancer Plan for England was published on 4 February 2026 on World Cancer Day. It includes welcome commitments to meet cancer waiting time targets, diagnose cancers earlier and accelerate the set-up of clinical trials.

Preventing cancers caused by overweight and obesity

In the past 10 years, we’ve established ourselves as a leading voice campaigning for governments to implement policies that make it easier for everyone to keep a healthy weight, with the aim of preventing more cancer cases in future.

We've built public support by increasing awareness of the link between excess weight and cancer, and we're beginning to see policy wins that can pave the way to a better future. In January 2026, we hit a major milestone as we saw the implementation of hard-won legislation restricting junk food advertising on TV and online to protect children and young people.

Impact:

The UK Government’s figures suggest that the new restrictions on junk food advertising could remove up to 7.2bn calories from children’s diets per year. Over the coming years, this could reduce the number of children in the UK who are obese by more than 20,000.   

Securing a world-class cancer research environment

We’ve been behind efforts to make sure scientists have the environment they need to drive discoveries and help people live longer, better lives, free from the fear of cancer.

Over the last two decades, we’ve joined forces with other leading research and development (R&D) organisations to urge successive chancellors to consider the vital role of R&D in the government’s long-term growth plans. We’re pleased this advocacy has protected the science budget from cuts and, in some years, led to increased R&D budgets.

The impact:

In March 2024, then Chancellor, Jeremy Hunt, announced £45m to support charity-funded early career researchers. This is on top of £70m previously secured across 2021 and 2023, in response to our #ResearchAtRisk campaign call for more funding.