Data brief
This brief presents the latest data on waiting times for diagnostic tests, cancer diagnosis and treatment, and performance against targets for all UK nations.
Find out more about key waiting times statistics - August 2026
Report
Our 2026 report Cancer in the UK: Age aims to support a more nuanced understanding of how cancer prevention, diagnosis, treatment and outcomes vary by age.
Find out more about Cancer in the UK: Age - July 2026
Report
This report summarises the current impact of cancer on people and health services in the UK today. It looks at where progress is being made and what challenges remain.
Find out more about Cancer in the UK: Overview - April 2026
Report
This analysis estimates the number of people not up to date with screening in the UK, using publicly available data from each of the UK’s national cancer screening programmes.
Read the report in full - November 2025
Report
This analysis looks at variation in performance for the Faster Diagnosis Standard by whether cancer is diagnosed or ruled out, including by type of suspected cancer.
Find out more about FDS performance variation - September 2025
Report
This analysis aims to understand disruption from COVID-19 to symptom reporting, waiting times, diagnostics and treatment for bowel and lung cancer patients in Wales.
Find out about the impact of COVID-19 in Wales - April 2025
Report
This report highlights ongoing disparities across the cancer pathway between the most and least deprived groups, and the opportunities for meaningful progress.
Find out more about Cancer in the UK: socio-economic deprivation – February 2025
Tool
This tool explores how socio-demographic factors may affect screening coverage for GP practice and ICB areas and compares predicted coverage with actual coverage.
Explore the Bowel Screening Tool
View the Bowel Screening Tool Guide - March 2025
Peer review publication
This study, done in partnership with NDRS and the NCDA, analyses the factors linked to emergency cancer diagnoses and their association with patient outcomes.
Find out more about emergency diagnosis in the NCDA - October 2024
Report
This report looks at the characteristics of patients who face the longest waits for cancer treatment (>104 days from their referral) and the reported reasons for delays.
Find out more about patients experiencing long waits - July 2024
Peer review publication
This study uses NCDA data from 2014 and 2018 to compare the referral process before and after the publication of 2015 NICE guidance on suspected cancer.
Find out more about the NCDA analysis - July 2023
Peer review publication
In partnership with NHS England, this study investigates the relationship between ethnic group and late-stage diagnosis (stages 3 or 4) for six types of cancer.
Find out more about ethnicity and stage at diagnosis - January 2023
Report
This report presents the results of a survey exploring public perceptions around lung cancer and its risks, as well and knowledge and perceptions of screening.
Report
The aim of this research was to build an understanding of the public’s attitudes towards cancer screening and any potential delays in response to COVID-19.
Find out more about views on screening delays - November 2021
Peer review publication
This study aims to understand the frequency, nature and impact of avoidable GP delays in cancer diagnosis in England, in partnership with NDRS and the NCDA.
Find out more about avoidable delays - February 2020
Peer review publication
In partnership with Public Health England, we examine the characteristics and diagnostic pathways of patients presenting with non-specific but concerning symptoms.
Find out more about patients with non-specific symptoms - January 2020
Peer review publication
This study establishes a methodology to measure the time from first contact in secondary care to cancer diagnosis, and examines diagnostic timeliness.
Find out more about diagnostic intervals - May 2019
Peer review publication
This study, done in partnership with NDRS and the NCDA, looks at patients diagnosed with cancer in primary care in England in 2014, including timeliness and referrals.
Find out more about diagnosing cancer in primary care - December 2017
Use this data hub to explore the latest statistics for each UK nation on incidence by stage, survival by stage, screening participation and routes to diagnosis.
Explore data for UK constituencies on our interactive hub. Find information on cancer cases, deaths, smoking, overweight and obesity, early diagnosis and waiting times.
Explore data on cancer waiting times and diagnostic testing, including performance against key targets. You can look at breakdowns for cancer types and trends over time.
Use this data hub to explore the latest statistics for each UK nation on incidence by stage, survival by stage, screening participation and routes to diagnosis.
Visit the archive to view earlier reports and supplementary analyses.
Prevention Policy Research to view our policy on different ways of preventing cancer.
If you have any comments, questions or feedback, please reach out to our team.
