Almost 50,000 lung cancer patients have not been seen on time over the last 10 years, with thousands currently waiting more than three months to begin treatment, according to analysis of NHS data.
Despite being the biggest cause of cancer death in the UK, more than one in eight (15 per cent) of patients are currently “long waiters” – defined as waiting at least 104 days to start their treatment, the latest figures show.
This is double the number since 2019.
The situation is worse than for most other cancer types, the analysis by Cancer Research UK, shared with The i Paper, reveals. In December last year, fewer than one in 10 (9.3 per cent) of cancer patients were long waiters.
The 104-day threshold is a key indicator of delays in cancer care within the NHS. However, throughout all of 2024 and 2023, there were at least 100 long waiters for lung cancer every single month.
The NHS in England aims to begin treatment for 85 per cent of cancer patients within 62 days of an urgent referral. But latest data for February shows just 59 per cent of lung cancer patients started treatment within this time.
The last time the 62-day target was hit for lung cancer was December 2011.
Due to there being few to no symptoms at an early stage, lung cancer is regularly diagnosed late. People diagnosed with at the earliest stage are nearly 20 times more likely to survive for five years than those whose illness is caught late.
In the UK, around 35,000 people die from it every year, and it is the most common cause of cancer death, accounting for 21 per cent of all cancer deaths.
A lung-cancer screening programme is being rolled out across England to people aged between 55 and 74 who either smoke or used to smoke. However, it will not be available to 100 per cent of the eligible population until 2030, leaving a postcode lottery until then.
Within the programme so far, detection at stage 1 and 2 stands at 75 per cent, while outside the programme, it is 29 per cent.
An NHS England spokesperson said: “NHS staff are working hard to ensure that everyone affected by lung cancer receives a prompt diagnosis and treatment, and initiatives such as our Lung Cancer Screening programme have already helped thousands of people across England.
“We know we must continue to improve, and over the last year [March 2024 to February 2025], 59.5 per cent of patients with lung cancer have been treated within 62 days of an urgent referral.
“Whilst this is lower than we are aiming for, the improvement on performance from last year is equivalent to an extra 565 patients treated within the target time frame.”
Are you eligible for lung cancer screening?
If you are ged between 55 and 74 and have ever smoked, you may be offered an NHS lung health check – 72 per cent of lung cancer cases in the UK are caused by smoking.
Millions of people identified as being at risk of the disease will receive letters over the next five years offering them an initial telephone triage with a medical professional.
They are then likely to be invited for lung cancer screening.
If the results of the scan show signs of anything of concern, the patient may be referred for further lung scans and treatment at hospital.
Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust is sending out 45,000 letters over the next two years. Himali O’Regan, clinical lead for lung cancer screening at the trust, said: “This screening programme is absolutely vital in helping us detect lung cancer at the earliest opportunity.
“Any scans that identify urgent findings will result in the patient being invited to a dedicated screening clinic at Torbay Hospital for further investigation. Any non-urgent findings on CT scans will be communicated to the patient and GP directly.”
Around 14,000 people in the region who could be potentially at a higher risk of contracting lung cancer, due partially to their history of smoking, have already been identified
Michelle Weston from the Peninsula Cancer Alliance, which is co-ordinating the screening scheme across the region, said: “Your lungs work hard every minute of your life. Lung cancer screening can help to find problems early – often before you notice anything is wrong.”
Visit the NHS website to see if health checks are available in your area.
Cancer Research UK called for the rollout to be speeded up, and for all four UK nations to complete it sooner, to spot more lung cancers at an earlier stage and help save lives.
Samantha Harrison, head of strategic evidence at Cancer Research UK, told The i Paper: “Over the last decade, tens of thousands of lung cancer patients in England have been treated later than they should have been.
“This is unacceptable – 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.
“Waiting times for all cancer types have got worse over the last 10 years, but the situation is particularly bad for lung cancer. It’s still the biggest cause of cancer death in England, affecting over 27,000 people each year. But there’s more we can do to diagnose and treat it more effectively.”
The Government is developing a National Cancer Plan for England, which Harrison called “a huge opportunity to tackle cancer waiting times”.
She said: “If this plan sets out sufficient funding for staff and equipment, alongside reform, it will help the Government meet its pledge to hit cancer wait time targets by the end of this Parliament, and ultimately, help people to live longer, better lives.”
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Officials pointed out that the 62-day cancer backlog – those waiting longer than 62 days for treatment – has fallen 56 per cent since its peak in the pandemic.
The latest rapid registration data also shows that 58.7 per cent of patients are having cancer diagnosed earlier as of October 2024. This means approximately 7,500 more people are being diagnosed at stage 1 and 2.
A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: “No patient should be left waiting for access to life-saving treatment, regardless of the type of cancer that they have. Through our Plan for Change, this government is transforming cancer care.
“Already, 80,000 more people have had cancer diagnosed or ruled out between July 2024 and January 2025, and our Lung Screening Programme has led to over 3,000 more cancers being diagnosed at an earlier stage.
“In February, we also saw the highest ever proportion of patients getting a cancer diagnosis or an all clear within four weeks.
“But we know there is more to do and our National Cancer Plan will fight the disease on all fronts, through improving research, diagnosis, screening, treatment and prevention.”
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