Cancer figures on the rise – as new analysis shows teenagers and young adults have worse-than-average experience of cancer

As the number of young people with cancer looks set to rise, new Teenage Cancer Trust analysis shows they have a poorer-than-average experience in the healthcare system - particularly when it comes to diagnosis. 

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Policy

At least 37,000 young people aged between 15 and 24 will be diagnosed with cancer in the next fifteen years according to new analysis from the One Cancer Voice coalition of the UK’s leading cancer charities.  

And additional Teenage Cancer Trust analysis of the latest National Cancer Patient Experience Survey data suggests that these young people are likely to have a worse experience of cancer diagnosis and treatment than most other age groups.  

The charity’s analysis of the latest yearly results – which were released last month - shows that young people aged between 16 and 24 scored worse than average on just over half the comparable questions* asked as part of the survey, including all the questions relating to support from GPs and diagnostic tests. 

Kate Collins, Chief Executive at Teenage Cancer Trust, said: “Cancer in young people may be rare, but it is life-changing - and our new analysis shows they often face poorer experiences with diagnosis and treatment. 

“Every day, we hear how young people struggle unnecessarily. That’s why we’re campaigning for the National Cancer Plan to address their unique needs, and proud to join One Cancer Voice in urging the government to make sure the plan delivers.” 

Every day, we hear how young people struggle unnecessarily.

Kate Collins, Chief Executive, Teenage Cancer Trust

In total, One Cancer Voice say there are projected to rise to around 6.3 million new cancer cases diagnosed in England between now and 2040 – the equivalent of a loved one hearing that dreadful news every two minutes. 

Over the last 15 years there have been 5.5 million cases**. The new figures suggest there will be 14.2% more cases over the next 15 years. 

In April, Teenage Cancer Trust launched their #AndYoungPeople campaign, to mark Teenage and Young Adult Cancer Awareness Month and urge the government to include the specific needs of teenagers and young adults with cancer in the National Cancer Plan for England. Teenage Cancer Trust highlighted that cancer is different for teenagers and young adults than it is for children and older adults – and yet they are often overlooked in cancer plans and policies.

The campaign included specific calls around faster diagnosis, mental health, and clinical trials, and resulted in several thousand people signing the charity’s open letter and support from cross-party MPs.   

  • On Faster Diagnosis: Teenage Cancer Trust is calling for support and training for GPs and healthcare professionals so that they can increase their awareness of symptoms of cancer in young people. The charity also believes that a public health campaign to raise awareness of the main symptoms of cancer in the young is urgently needed.     
  • On Clinical Trials: Teenage Cancer Trust is calling for every young person with cancer in the UK to have the opportunity to participate in a clinical trial where a suitable one is available. 
  • On Mental Health: Teenage Cancer Trust believes that in every UK nation, every teenage and young adult with cancer must be able to access expert psychological support from a trained psychologist from the point of diagnosis and for a minimum of two years post-treatment.   

“I had a long road to my cancer diagnosis”

Claire Pitt-Wigmore experienced symptoms for seven months and saw doctors multiple times before she was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma at the age of 24. 

Claire, now 27, said: “I had a long road to my cancer diagnosis. In November 2021, I had a swelling to my upper torso, pressure in my head and neck and bad headaches. I’d been given antibiotics, but they didn’t help. 

“On New Years Eve, I had chest pains all day. Deep down I knew that there was something wrong. By the evening I was in a lot of pain, and I was encouraged to go to A&E. I was told that I had clots in my lungs and there was a mass. I was sent home but the swelling wasn’t going down and I was feeling unwell. We went back to A&E a couple of times, but nothing was found.  

“We pushed for a CT scan months later and in June 2022 I was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma. My symptoms were unusual because the tumour was in the big vein running to my heart. It was stopping blood flow.  

“Later, tests revealed that the tumour had grown into my heart due to fertility treatment causing it to go into overdrive. This is really rare. I was told that I needed to have open heart surgery to take it out and I was given a 50/50 chance of survival.”  

Claire is now in remission and supporting Teenage Cancer Trust’s involvement with One Cancer Voice. 

She continued: “Having cancer as a young person is really difficult, as you’re not quite an adult but you’re also not a child. So it’s great to see and be involved in a call out for the National Cancer Plan to consider people like me, and I’m glad to have a chance to be a part of that conversation.” 

46.3%

Percentage of young people who have to see a primary care professional three times or more before they are diagnosed

One Cancer Voice action

The new statistics and analysis come on the eve of action by over 50 charities who are part of One Cancer Voice, including Teenage Cancer Trust, who have come together to address these rising figures and outline six tests that the government’s forthcoming National Cancer Plan must meet if England is to lead the world in tackling cancer. 

The coalition says that the plan must: 

  1. Pledge to meet all cancer wait times by the end of this parliament  
  2. Outline a new earlier diagnosis target, alongside improvements to screening programmes and support for primary care so that fewer cancers are diagnosed at a later stage  
  3. Deliver impactful policies to prevent cancer, including tackling some of the biggest risk factors 
  4. Ensure every patient receives the best possible treatment and inequalities are addressed 
  5. Improve access to clinical trials for cancer patients, and make the NHS the world leader for cancer research and development  
  6. Improve the quality of life for every person living with cancer, by delivering person-centred care that tackles unmet needs and inequalities 

The charities are also clear that the plan, which is expected to be published later this year, must be fully funded as without this, it will be impossible to meet these tests. 

Notes to editors

For more information, please contact [email protected]

*Statistic refers to 29 of 59 comparable questions where age was included asked as part of the survey – full details can be found on the National Cancer Patient Experience Survey here or by contacting Teenage Cancer Trust. Please note that the slight difference in age groups (15-24 vs 16-24) is due to a difference in how the data is collected. 

**Based on 5,515,530 new cancer diagnoses between 2003-2005 to 2018-2019, 2021, compared with projected 6,298,554 new cancer diagnoses between 2025-2040. 

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