Less survivable cancers
A Westminster Hall debate has been scheduled for 9.30am on 6 January on less survivable cancers. The debate will be opened by Clive Jones MP.
Less survivable cancers include pancreatic, liver, lung, brain, stomach and oesophageal cancer. The Less Survivable Cancers Taskforce (a coalition of 6 charities) has reported that for a patient diagnosed with a less survivable cancer in England, the average one year survival rate is 42%. This is in comparison to a one-year survival rate of 70% for all cancers.
Less Survivable Cancers Awareness Week 2025 starts on the 13 January 2026.
Government activityThe government has said it will publish a National Cancer Plan in the new year which will include details of how it will:
- improve outcomes for patients with less survivable cancer
- speed up diagnosis and treatment
- ensure patients have access to new treatments and technology
- improve cancer survival rates
On the 4 February 2025, the Department of Health and Social Care opened a 12-week call for evidence to inform the national cancer plan.
In its 10-year health plan for the NHS, published in July 2025, the government said it will roll out lung cancer screening for those with a history of smoking. It said it expects this will detect 9,000 cancers earlier each year. More generally, the plan has a focus on earlier diagnosis through wider access to screening services and making use of new technologies, such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), to aid with diagnosis. The plan also proposes developing a genomics population health service. This service would combine genomics (the study of genes in people’s DNA and how it influences their development and health), diagnostics, AI and predictive analysis to support identifying health risks earlier and providing more tailored interventions.
Research fundingCancer research focuses on developing our understanding of what causes cancers and how they grow and spread. The aim is to translate these insights into improvements in the prevention, detection and treatment of cancer.
Funding for medical research in the UK is provided by both the public and private sectors, as well as charities and non-governmental (third sector) organisations. Government funding for medical research is typically channelled through:
- the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR, which is funded by the Department of Health and Social Care) and
- UK Research and Innovation (UKRI, the UK’s national research funding agency, which is predominately funded by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology).
In late 2025, the government reported that the NIHR had invested over £141.6 million in cancer research in the year 2024/25 and that UKRI “invests approximately £200 million annually in cancer research”.
Data on overall public and third sector funding for cancer research is collated by the UK Clinical Research Collaboration (UKCRC) and by the National Cancer Research Institute (NCRI, which announced it was closing in June 2023).
The latest data from the UKCRC, published in 2024, shows that public and third sector bodies spent a total of £469 million on cancer research in 2022. The largest funder was Cancer Research UK which provided almost half of the total funding for cancer research in 2022 (£221 million). The report does not include information about industry-funded cancer research, due a lack of publicly available data. UKCRC data does not distinguish between research funding for more survivable or less survivable cancers.
In 2023, the NCRI and the charity Cancer 52 published an analysis of cancer research funding by public and charitable organisations. Research funding for the four most common types of cancer (lung, breast, bowel and prostate cancers) was excluded from the analysis. The report found that in the financial year 2020/21, £179 million of research funding was focused on less common or rare cancers (which does not necessarily mean less survivable cancers), representing 54% of overall cancer research expenditure. The analysis also broke down research spend by cancer type for 2020/21, including for the following less survivable cancers:
- Brain: around £24.5 million
- Liver: around £8 million
- Oesophageal: around £13.8 million
- Pancreatic: around £21.2 million
- Stomach: around £1.3 million
Stakeholder advocacy tends to focus on greater investments in research to improve earlier diagnosis and survival rates for less survivable cancers, and improved awareness of symptoms.
All Party Parliamentary Group on less survivable cancersIn July 2025, the All Party Parliamentary Group on less survivable cancers published a report titled “Inquiry into earlier detection and faster diagnosis”. The report made 12 recommendations for the government about less survivable cancers:
- invest in research for detection tests to support GPs identify symptoms
- support the roll-out of innovative detection tests and evaluate their use
- support campaigns to raise awareness of symptoms
- produce a strategy for earlier and faster diagnosis
- develop a nationwide programme to identify individuals at high-risk
- develop a nationwide programme for the surveillance of individuals with inherited risks (such as people with a family history of pancreatic cancer)
- continue to support the roll out and expansion of testing for conditions that are precursors to less survivable cancers (such as testing for HIV)
- develop an observational study to ensure a standardised clinical dataset is being collected to a high standard
- tackle capacity challenges impacting the rollout of whole genomic sequencing across NHS hospitals, including by investing in frozen tissue storage
- appoint a lead for establishing a strategic mission for less survivable cancers and supporting research and innovation
- establish centres of excellence for each of the less survivable cancers, in collaboration with research and medical communities
- include clinical trials as a performance metric within the NHS to incentivise clinicians to prioritise research
The Less Survivable Cancers Taskforce is made up of six charities that identified a difference in the survival rates for different cancer types. These charities are:
- Action Against Heartburn
- Brain Tumour Charity
- British Liver Trust
- Guts UK
- Pancreatic Cancer UK
- Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation
The taskforce says that “While some cancer types such as breast and prostate cancer have seen an improvement in their survival rates, cancers of the brain, liver, lung, oesophagus, pancreas and stomach have not seen their survival rates improve for over 40 years.”
It says this is due to underfunding and a lack of prioritisation, and it is campaigning for clear targets, improvements in early diagnosis and investments in research to help improve survival rates for people diagnosed with pancreatic, liver, lung, brain, stomach and oesophageal cancer.
Parliamentary material Parliamentary debatesNHS Workforce Levels: Impact on Cancer Patients
23 October 2025| Westminster Hall
Obesity and Fatty Liver Disease
28 October 2025| Westminster Hall
Brain Tumours: Research and Treatment
8 May 2025 | House of Commons
Parliamentary questionsPancreatic Cancer: Diagnosis
25 November 2025 | UIN 91526
Asked by: Fleur Anderson
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his department is taking to expand the roll out surveillance programmes to (a) identify people at highest risk of pancreatic cancer and (b) support earlier diagnosis.
Answering member: Ashley Dalton | Department: Department of Health and Social Care
Earlier diagnosis of cancers, including pancreatic cancer, is a priority for the Government. NHS England is working on case-finding approaches for less survivable cancers, where the evidence suggests this is appropriate. This includes a public-facing Family History Checker, which enables people, and their families, affected by pancreatic cancer to self-assess if they may inherit risk. Individuals identified as being at risk are referred directly to the European Registry of Hereditary Pancreatic Diseases research trial, which aims to understand inherited conditions of the pancreas. Referrals to the trial can be made by any healthcare professional across all health sectors or by individuals via self-referral, contributing to a centralised approach to case-finding.
The National Disease Registration Service has developed the National Inherited Cancer Predisposition Register (NICPR), which launched on 30 June. The NICPR looks at a wide range of cancers for which there is an increased inherited risk, including for less survivable cancers. It aims to identify high-risk individuals who are eligible for targeted screening and surveillance and will act as an electronic referral route into national screening programmes, where these exist.
Cancer: Health Services
19 November 2025| UIN 90304
Asked by: Preet Kaur Gill
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he is planning to introduce targeted measures to tackle the specific challenges for patients with less survivable cancers through the National Cancer Plan.
Answering member: Ashley Dalton | Department: Department of Health and Social Care
Reducing the number of lives lost to cancer is a key aim of the National Cancer Plan, which will be published in the new year. The plan will include further details on how we will improve outcomes for patients with cancer, including less survivable cancers, as well as speeding up diagnosis and treatment, ensuring patients have access to the latest treatments and technology, and ultimately driving up this country’s cancer survival rates.
The Department has been working closely with members of the Less Survivable Cancers Taskforce as part of the development of the plan to understand the specific challenges and to identify how to improve diagnosis, treatment, and outcomes for less survivable cancers, which includes lung, pancreatic, liver, brain, oesophageal, and stomach cancer.
Cancer: Diagnosis
18 November 2025| UIN 89324
Asked by: Helen Maguire
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to support the implementation of innovative (a) diagnostic tools and (b) tests to help improve the speed of diagnosis of less survivable cancers.
Answering member: Ashley Dalton | Department: Department of Health and Social Care
The Department is carrying out work to assess the barriers of effective adoption and to improve the way diagnostic tools, including those using artificial intelligence (AI), are deployed across the National Health Service in England.
The NHS Cancer Programme’s Innovation Open Call is held to identify and support the most promising innovations and has funded cancer diagnostic innovations in areas including medical devices, in vitro diagnostics, digital health solutions, behaviour interventions, artificial intelligence, robotics, and new models of care.
There are also initiatives to improve the identification of cancer symptoms, including for less survivable cancers, in primary care. This includes Jess’s Rule, which supports clinicians to rethink their assessments when patients have presented three times with the same symptoms or concerns. Jess’s Rule was developed through a process of engagement with leading clinicians and charities.
The Department has been working with members of the Less Survivable Cancers Taskforce as part of the development of the National Cancer Plan to identify how to improve diagnosis, treatment, and outcomes for less survivable cancers, which includes lung, pancreatic, liver, brain, oesophageal, and stomach cancer.
Cancer: Clinical Trials
18 November 2025| UIN 89326
Asked by: Helen Maguire
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to increase access to clinical trials for patients with (a) pancreatic cancer and (b) other less survivable cancers.
Answering member: Ashley Dalton | Department: Department of Health and Social Care
The Department is committed to ensuring that all patients, including those with pancreatic cancer and other less survivable cancers, have access to cutting-edge clinical trials and innovative, lifesaving treatments.
The Department funds research and research infrastructure through the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), which supports National Health Service patients, the public, and NHS organisations across England to participate in high-quality research, including clinical trials into cancers.
NIHR provides an online service called 'Be Part of Research', which promotes participation in health and social care research by allowing users to search for relevant studies and register their interest.
The forthcoming National Cancer Plan will include further details on how we will improve outcomes for cancer patients across the country. It will ensure that more patients have access to the latest treatments and technology, and to clinical trials.
The Government is also supporting the Rare Cancers Private Members Bill. The Bill will make it easier for clinical trials, on for example pancreatic cancer, to take place in England, by ensuring the patient population can be more easily contacted by researchers.
Cancer: Research
17 November 2025| UIN 88502
Asked by: Adam Jogee
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make a comparative assessment of the adequacy of funding for research and innovation for (a) less survivable cancers and (b) other cancer types.
Answering member: Dr Zubir Ahmed | Department: Department of Health and Social Care
Research is crucial in tackling cancer, which is why the Department invests £1.6 billion each year on research through its research delivery arm, the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). Cancer is one of the largest areas of spend at over £141.6 million in 2024/25, reflecting its high priority.
These investments are pivotal to informing efforts to improve cancer prevention, treatment, and outcomes. An example of this investment is the Imperial College London research on breath tests to detect less survivable cancers, with further information available at the following link:
Another example of Government investment was the launch of the NIHR’s national Brain Tumour Research Consortium in September 2024, which is bringing together researchers from a range of different disciplines and institutions with the aim of making scientific advances in how we prevent, detect, manage, and treat rare and less-survivable brain tumours in adults and children.
The NIHR continues to welcome funding applications for research into less common cancers and other cancer types. The forthcoming National Cancer Plan will include further details on how the National Health Service will improve diagnosis and outcomes for all cancer patients in England, including for less common cancers, and other cancer types.
Cancer: Diagnosis
12 June 2025| UIN 56593
Asked by: Clive Jones
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the APPG for Less Survivable Cancer's report entitled Inquiry into earlier detection and faster diagnosis published in June 2025, what steps he is taking to ensure GPs identify less survivable cancers.
Answering member: Ashley Dalton | Department: Department of Health and Social Care
It is a priority for the Government to support the National Health Service to diagnose cancer, including rare and less common cancers, earlier, in order to improve outcomes, including survival rates.
We are streamlining referral routes and increasing the availability of diagnostic capacity through the roll-out of more community diagnostic centres. Additionally, we are streamlining referral routes through the implementation of a non-specific symptom pathway, for patients who present with vague and non-site-specific symptoms which do not clearly align to a tumour type.
We are also investing an additional £889 million in general practices (GPs) to reinforce the front door of the NHS, bringing total spend on the GP Contract to £13.2 billion in 2025/26. This is the biggest increase in over a decade.
The National Cancer Plan, which will complement the 10-Year Health Plan and support delivery of the Government’s Health Mission, will set out further actions to improve early diagnosis, including GP referral for suspected cancer. The plan will also consider how we can better identify and monitor people at increased risk of developing cancer.
Cancer: Diagnosis
11 June 2025| UIN 57104
Asked by: Clive Jones
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if his Department will make an assessment of the potential merits of an (a) centralised and (b) nationwide case-finding programme to identify people at high risk of (i) developing and (ii) inheriting less survivable cancers.
Answering member: Ashley Dalton | Department: Department of Health and Social Care
The National Disease Registration Service (NDRS) has committed to developing a National Inherited Cancer Predisposition Register (NICPR) as part of its 2024 to 2027 strategy, building on the work to establish the National Lynch Registry. The NICPR will launch on 30 June, and will look at a wider range of cancers for which there is an increased inherited risk, including for less survivable cancers. It will identify high-risk individuals who are eligible for targeted screening and surveillance, and will act as an electronic referral route into national screening programmes where these exist, for instance Lynch syndrome and bowel screening.
The NICPR is also a key commitment in the Rare Disease Action Plan for England, with NDRS in NHS England as the lead delivery partner, further highlighting its relevance to improving care for people with rare inherited cancer risk.
NHS England is also working on case-finding approaches for less survivable cancers, where the evidence suggests this is appropriate. It is currently developing a public-facing Family History Checker, which enables people and their families affected by pancreatic cancer to self-assess if they may inherit risk. Individuals identified as being at risk are referred directly to the European Registry of Hereditary Pancreatic Diseases research trial, which aims to understand inherited conditions of the pancreas. Referrals to the trial can be made by any healthcare professional across all health sectors or by individuals via self-referral, contributing to a centralised approach to case-finding.
As part of our National Cancer Plan, we have been working with members of the Less Survivable Cancers Taskforce, a group of charities focusing on cancers with poor survival rates, to identify how we can improve diagnosis, treatment, and outcomes for less survivable cancers.
Press materialUK ranks poorly for deadliest cancer survival (London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, 12 February 2020)
Less survivable cancers are more likely to have late diagnoses (Patient, 4 March 2022)
Rare cancers need a Silicon Valley approach to investment (Financial Times, 27 November 2023)
January 11th is National Day of Less Survivable Cancers Awareness (OncoDaily, 9 January 2025)
Further readingLess Survivable Cancers Taskforce
All Party Parliamentary Group on less survivable cancers