Government launches new cancer plan at Maggie's on World Cancer Day

Health Secretary Wes Streeting was welcomed to the centre by Dame Laura Lee, Chief Executive of Maggie's.

The minister spoke to centre visitors who have all been supported by Maggie's their cancer diagnoses, and discussed the importance of a plan to improve cancer care in England.

Mr Streeting, who himself was diagnosed with kidney cancer in 2021, said: "If you've ever sat in a waiting room dreading what comes next or laid awake at 3am wondering how you'll pay the bills while you're off work for treatment, you'll know that cancer doesn't just attack your body - it takes over your whole life.

"I was fortunate. I had a supportive employer, a family who could rally around me, and the financial security to focus on getting better. But I know that's not everyone's reality - and it shouldn't be based on luck.

"For too long, we've treated the tumour and left patients to figure out the rest on their own. That ends now. This plan means nobody gets handed a diagnosis and is then abandoned to navigate the system alone.

“This is care that actually fits around people's lives, not the other way around. It's the biggest shift in how we support cancer patients in a generation.”

This plan will slash waits, invest in cutting-edge technology, and give every patient the best possible chance of beating cancer.

"Cancer survival shouldn’t come down to who won the lottery of life. But cancer is more likely to be a death sentence in Britain than other countries around the world.

"As a cancer survivor who owes my life to the NHS, I owe it to future patients to make sure they receive the same outstanding care I did. 

"Thanks to the revolution in medical science and technology, we have the opportunity to transform the life chances of cancer patients. Our cancer plan will invest in and modernise the NHS, so that opportunity can be seized and our ambitions realised."

Key details of the National cancer plan

Every cancer patient will be given individual support, designed just for them, under the government's new National Cancer Plan, published today.

For the first time, every patient will get a Personalised Cancer Plan that looks beyond just treatment and diagnosis to cover the full impact of cancer on their life - from anxiety and fatigue to diet and returning to work.

They will also receive an end-of-treatment summary to end the cliff edge many face when chemotherapy or surgery finishes - giving them clear guidance on warning signs, who to call with concerns, and where to find ongoing support like physiotherapy, counselling or local cancer groups.

Even after successful treatment, some patients find themselves unable to return to the lives they had before diagnosis. The psychological toll of cancer can be devastating and long-lasting - with anxiety, depression and trauma persisting long after physical recovery. But the Personalised Cancer Plan ensures patients receive the mental health support they need to rebuild their lives.

Rolling out this year, the new approach recognises that cancer can affect every part of a patient's life and that care doesn't stop when treatment ends. It’s a crucial change in how cancer patients receive support, ensuring care is designed around their lives rather than demanding patients fit around the NHS.

More personalised support doesn't just improve wellbeing - it gets people back to work and back to their families sooner.

Read the National Cancer Plan here.

Connecting patients to cancer support

Patients will be connected to cancer charities for specialist support through the NHS App as soon as they are diagnosed.

Too often, patients only discover charity support by chance - or miss out entirely. This means help with everything from financial advice to emotional support will be just a tap away, right when they need it most.

The NHS App will be transformed into a digital portal for cancer care, allowing patients to book screening appointments, access prehabilitation programmes, view their patient record, check their Personalised Cancer Plan, and provide feedback on their care - all from the convenience of their home.

By 2035, every cancer patient will have a named neighbourhood care lead responsible for joining up their care after treatment meaning no more being passed from pillar to post.  This demonstrates the real change being delivered by the government's record investment as we rebuild the NHS.

New standards will be introduced by 2028 to help patients get fit for treatment and recover quickly afterwards - including prehabilitation, rehabilitation and physical activity programmes.

Dame Laura Lee DBE said: "It was brilliant to welcome the Health Secretary to Maggie's, Royal Free on World Cancer Day to unveil the much anticipated national cancer plan.

"A cancer diagnosis knocks the ground from under you. People come into Maggie’s centres with the weight of the world on their shoulders, not only worried about treatment and its physical side effects but the wider impact of cancer on their work and finances, relationships, and much more.

At Maggie's, we help to relieve that burden and give people the emotional and practical support they need to navigate cancer and all the challenges it brings.

"It is hugely encouraging that the government has recognised the toll cancer takes on every aspect of someone’s life, which can continue long after treatment ends, and we welcome the new measures that will ensure everyone receives tailored support covering everything from exercise and employment to mental health and nutrition – and that people with cancer will be signposted to charities like Maggie’s from the moment of diagnosis.

"This is exactly what we asked to be included in the national cancer plan, and we look forward to working with the government and the NHS to help deliver this support, enabling more people to live well with and beyond cancer."

What the new National Cancer Plan will achieve

The announcement follows today’s government pledge that three in four cancer patients diagnosed from 2035 will be cancer-free or living well after five years.

This is on top of a series of measures already announced in the lead up to the National Cancer Plan, including; £10 million a year to support children's travel costs for cancer care, improving access to specialists in rural and coastal communities, a crackdown on illegal underage sunbed use and improved bowel cancer screening to catch thousands more cases earlier. 

The government has also announced a new AI pilot to help detect hard-to-reach lung cancers sooner with fewer invasive tests as well as a new employer partnership to support England's 830,000 working-age cancer patients to remain in employment during and after treatment. 

The cancer plan comes as the government continues to make strides on cancer waiting lists, diagnosing or ruling out cancer on time for 213,000 extra cases since July 2024. 

One hundred and seventy community diagnostic centres are now open - with over 100 of them available at evenings and weekends - bringing checks, scans and tests closer to where people live and at times that work around them.

The national cancer plan commits to ensuring three in four people diagnosed with cancer from 2035 onwards are cancer-free or living well after five years - an increase of one quarter on the current rate.

The plan also sets out reforms to the diagnosis and treatment of cancer, including investment to deliver millions more diagnostic tests and the rollout of robot-assisted surgery.

A new employer partnership to support people with cancer to remain in work during and after treatment will be introduced, and funding will be made available for families facing high travel costs because of a child's cancer care.

Over six million people are expected to be diagnosed with cancer by 2040, so it is more crucial than ever that everyone can access the expert emotional and practical support they deserve.

Maggie's: here for 30 years, here for good

In 2026, we're marking our 30th year of providing life-changing support since our first centre opened in Edinburgh in 1996.

We have 27 centres across the UK, all based in hospital grounds and providing free support for everyone impacted by cancer, with no appointment or referral needed.

If you or someone you love needs support, our expert staff are here to listen to your concerns and find the help you need wherever you are – over the phone and online.

• Just come in 
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• Email us at enquiries@maggies.org 
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