Cancer waiting times: Latest updates and analysis

What does this mean for people affected by cancer?

It can be easy to forget that behind these numbers are real people going through an incredibly anxious time.

Quantifying the impact of missing targets and longer waits on patient outcomes is difficult as the research is limited.

The picture is different for different cancer types – some progress quicker than others – but we know the overall impact is likely to be negative. One study estimated that a four-week delay to cancer surgery led to a 6-8% increased risk of dying.

People with more aggressive cancers are prioritised for early treatment where possible, but there can be good reasons why someone might experience a long wait for treatment.

For example, it can take longer to plan treatments intending to cure someone’s cancer, and sometimes patients need prehabilitation before starting treatment to give them the best chance of recovering well.

But increases in missed targets mean people who need potentially lifesaving cancer treatments are waiting, and worrying, for longer – and that is a big concern.

Despite delays, people shouldn’t put off coming forward if they are worried about symptoms. It’s always better to be on the waiting list than not at all, and if doctors are concerned, they will push things through as quickly as possible.

Getting back on track

Far too many patients continue to face long waits for treatment – despite the best efforts of NHS staff. These delays can increase anxiety and, for rapidly developing cancers, impact the treatment available.

In line with our calls for a new ‘cancer guarantee’, the new National Cancer Plan for England, published in February 2026, includes a commitment to meet all cancer waiting times targets by 2029. 

To get there, the plan promises to drive up productivity, make the best use of investment in expanded NHS diagnostic capacity and target funding for Cancer Alliances to support providers to improve performance. But even taken together, these actions will only get us so far. Meeting these targets will likely require more investment to increase NHS capacity.

You can read our full reaction to the National Cancer Plan here.