A record 106,810 cancer patients waited more than 62 days to start urgent treatment on the NHS last year, damning new analysis reveals.
More than four in five trusts (83 per cent) missed the key target of treating 85 per cent of patients within this time frame.
Cancer charities warn such delays slash survival chances, can make some treatments less effective and increase anxiety.
Studies show every four-week delay reduces patient survival by an average of 10 per cent.
At 12 trusts, more than half of cancer patients waited too long to start treatment after being referred by their GP or other doctor.
And nationally, the longstanding target of treating 85 per cent of patients within 62 days has not been met since 2014.
Ed Davey, leader of the Liberal Democrats, which analysed the NHS England data, said: ‘Like millions of people, my life was turned upside down by cancer, which took both my parents when I was young.
‘It is completely heartbreaking to see just how many people are waiting months on end to start treatment after being diagnosed. It cannot continue.
Ed Davey, leader of the Liberal Democrats, said it is ‘heartbreaking’ to see how many people are forced to wait too long to start cancer treatment.
One person is diagnosed with cancer in the UK every 75 seconds following a surge in cases over the past decade.
‘That’s why the Liberal Democrats will make improving cancer care a top priority, and fight every day for better care for you and your loved ones.’
One person is diagnosed with cancer in the UK every 75 seconds following a surge in cases over the past decade.
Almost 424,000 people now receive the devastating news each year, with the frequency up from once every 90 seconds just ten years ago.
The Liberal Democrats are campaigning for a guarantee that every patient starts treatment for cancer within 62 days from urgent referral, with this right written into law.
The party said it would deliver this through 200 extra staffed radiotherapy machines, new radiotherapy centres to end ‘radiotherapy deserts’, and over 3,000 more cancer nurses to ensure everyone has a specialist supporting them.
It has also called for a new ‘Cancer Fellowship’ scheme to welcome scientists from the US whose cancer research has been defunded by the Trump administration.
The government published its National Cancer Plan in February this year, promising to embrace a robotic revolution to boost survival rates.
The Department of Health and Social Care also claimed the NHS will meet all of its existing cancer targets by March 2029.
But think tanks said hitting these would be ‘incredibly difficult’ on current performance and the NHS would need to improve 30-times faster to achieve it.
The UK lags behind other countries in cancer outcomes and faces a major shortage of staff and diagnostic scanners compared to countries like Germany, Sweden and Italy.
Matt Sample, senior health policy manager at Cancer Research UK, said: ‘Far too many people with cancer are still waiting longer than they should to begin treatment in England.
‘Every day waiting can feel like forever and it’s vital that no matter where someone lives, they can get the care they need quickly.
‘It’s positive to see the UK Government commit to meeting cancer wait time targets by 2029.
‘To deliver on this promise, it’s crucial that there is investment in additional staff and equipment for the NHS, or patients will continue to be let down.’
