More cancer patients in England are waiting longer than the 62‑day target for treatment, and some say their disease progressed while they waited.

Official NHS data released this week show the share of patients exceeding the target rose steadily over the past 12 months, reaching a level not seen since the early 2010s. The increase coincides with a government pledge earlier this year to speed up waiting times without a corresponding boost in funding.

My cancer spread while I waited months for surgery.

One patient, who asked to remain anonymous, described how a tumour diagnosed in early 2025 grew significantly by the time surgery finally took place in late 2026. "I was told the operation would be scheduled within weeks, but months passed and the scan showed the cancer had moved," they said.

Another case from the north of England involved a woman whose breast cancer was deemed operable in March but only received her operation in August after a series of postponements. By then, the surgeon had to perform a more extensive procedure, increasing both recovery time and the risk of complications.

Health officials point to a confluence of factors: a surge in referrals after the rollout of new screening programmes, staffing shortages in oncology departments, and the lingering impact of pandemic‑era backlogs. The Department of Health acknowledged the pressure, noting that "the NHS is working to prioritise urgent cases while expanding capacity where possible".

Critics argue the government’s recent target to reduce average waiting times to seven weeks for non‑cancer services, announced by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency earlier this year, sets an unrealistic benchmark for a system already stretched thin. "If you can’t meet a seven‑week goal for learner drivers, you certainly can’t promise faster cancer care without extra resources," said a senior NHS spokesperson.

The 62‑day standard, introduced in 2000, was intended to ensure prompt treatment and improve survival rates. However, recent analysis by BBC Health indicates that the target is increasingly missed, and the gap is widening. Compared with the pre‑pandemic period, the median time from urgent referral to first definitive treatment now exceeds the target by more than a week.

Systemic pressures behind the delays

Funding for cancer services has not kept pace with rising demand. The NHS England budget for oncology rose by 1.5% in the 2025‑26 financial year, well below the 3% growth in patient numbers. Staffing shortages, particularly among specialist surgeons and radiologists, have forced many trusts to postpone elective procedures.

Regional variations are stark. Trusts in the south‑east report average waits of 55 days, while some northern hospitals see waits of 80 days or more. The disparity reflects uneven recruitment success and differing local investment.

Political and public reaction

Opposition parties have seized on the figures, accusing the government of "pay‑as‑you‑go" healthcare. In the House of Commons, a Labour MP urged the health secretary to "declare a cancer emergency" and allocate emergency funding.

Patient advocacy groups, such as Macmillan Cancer Support, have launched a campaign urging faster referrals and transparent reporting of wait‑time breaches. Their director warned that delayed treatment not only harms patients medically but also erodes public confidence in the NHS.

What comes next

The health secretary announced a review of cancer pathways, promising a report by early 2027 that will recommend additional staffing and infrastructure investments. In the meantime, trusts are urged to prioritise cases where the tumour is known to be aggressive.

For patients currently on waiting lists, clinicians advise close monitoring and, where possible, interim treatments such as neoadjuvant therapy to control disease progression.

patient undergoing a CT scan in a radiology department