Liver Cancer UK, part of the British Liver Trust, has joined a coalition of more than 50 UK cancer charities calling on the Government to tackle cancer waiting times in England, as new analysis by Cancer Research UK revealed that in 2024, 74,000 cancer patients didn’t start their treatment on time.
Deaths from liver cancer in the UK have nearly doubled over the past two decades, with Cancer Research UK estimating that the disease has claimed over 81,000 lives during this period. Projections suggest that liver cancer deaths will rise by a further 10% by 2040, potentially ranking as the sixth most common cause of cancer-related deaths.
Vanessa Hebditch, Director of Policy and Communications at the British Liver Trust said:
“Liver cancer is now the fastest rising cause of cancer death in the UK with only 13% of people surviving for five years after diagnosis. Each day, 16 people in the UK die from liver cancer but it is simply devastating that far too many of these people have been diagnosed at a late stage and often in emergency settings, leaving them with limited treatment options and drastically reduced rates of survival.”
“NHS England have been piloting effective ways to improve outcomes for liver cancer patients and we need to ensure that this work is built on and extended in the new National Cancer Plan. Further investment for liver cancer patients is needed to ensure that no one is left behind.”
Liver cancer is often preventable, with the majority of cases linked to underlying liver conditions. Improving liver health and strengthening surveillance for those with liver disease are critical steps in reducing the number of lives lost to liver cancer.
The NHS in England aims to begin treatment for 85% of cancer patients within 62 days of an urgent referral, but in 2024, just over 6 in 10 patients (61.6%) started treatment within 62 days following an urgent suspected cancer referral. Analysis reveals the proportion of patients in England starting cancer treatment within 62 days of an urgent suspected cancer referral has plummeted over the last decade, from 83.9% in 2014 to 61.6% in 2024.*
Although there was a slight improvement on the previous year, One Cancer Voice, the collective voice of the UK’s leading cancer charities say that this isn’t good enough and have urged the government to prioritise cancer waiting times through investment in additional staff and equipment. The coalition welcomed the UK Government’s intention to publish a National Cancer Plan for England but say that more needs to be done.
The UK government has pledged to meet the 85% target by the end of this parliament, and last month, made a welcome commitment to improve performance by April 2026.
But One Cancer Voice, the coalition of the UK’s leading cancer charities, warned that the slow rate of improvement – just 1.5 percentage points over the last year – is not enough to achieve this.
Cancer Research UK’s chief executive and One Cancer Voice representative, Michelle Mitchell, said:
“Seventy-five thousand cancer patients waited longer than they should to start their treatment last year. Behind every one of these numbers is a family member, friend or loved one facing unbelievable stress and anxiety, where every day can feel like forever.
“Hardworking NHS staff are doing their best, and last year we saw a slight improvement in cancer waiting times from the year before. However, there is still a long way to go, and the UK Government must act.
“The National Cancer Plan can be a turning point for cancer patients across England, but the UK Government must invest in staff and equipment, alongside reforms, if it’s to hit all cancer waiting time targets by the end of this parliament. It’s the least that cancer patients deserve.”
It’s not always possible to determine how a delay to cancer treatment will impact on a patient’s outcome, as some cancers progress more quickly than others. However, one study has estimated that a 4-week delay to cancer surgery led to a 6-8% increased risk of dying, and delays can also reduce the treatment options that are available. There are also the psychological effects – waits cause major stress and anxiety for cancer patients and their loved ones.
More than 1 in 10 cancer patients (11.5%) faced having to wait more than 104 days following an urgent suspected cancer referral to begin their treatment – nearly twice as long as the 62-day target.
The coalition welcomed the UK Government’s intention to publish a National Cancer Plan for England – but called on ministers to prioritise cancer waiting times through investment in additional staff and equipment.
