More than 1,000 people were diagnosed with cancer daily in 2024 for the first time, according to NHS England based on the latest Cancer registration statistics.
There were 373,574 new cancer diagnoses in 2024, excluding basal cell carcinoma and cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma of the skin. This represents an average of 1,021 diagnoses a day, compared with 972 a day in 2013. The figures also show an increase of 11,833 new diagnoses compared with the previous year.
Prostate cancer remained the most commonly diagnosed cancer in England, with 61,115 new cases in 2024, an increase of 2,394 (4.1%) compared with 2023.
The six most common cancer groups were skin, prostate, breast, lungs, bowel and blood cancers. Half of all registered cancer diagnoses (50%), excluding the two specified types of skin cancer, continued to fall within four main groups: prostate, breast, lung and bowel.
Including basal cell carcinoma and cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma of the skin, the total number of cancers registered in 2024 was 616,404.
Professor Peter Johnson, NHS National Clinical Director for Cancer, said the NHS was taking tests and checks closer to the people who needed them and highlighted the development of new treatments to support earlier diagnosis and treatment.
He encouraged people invited to NHS cancer screening programmes to take up the offer and urged anyone concerned about potential cancer signs and symptoms to contact their GP surgery without delay.
The statistics report covers registered primary cancers diagnosed during 2024 in England, with data available across cancer groups, age, gender, deprivation and stage at diagnosis, where appropriate.
