Our reponse to the National Cancer Plan for England
On 4 February 2026, the Government marked World Cancer Day by launching its National Cancer Plan for England. Today’s plan marks a turning point. For the first time, England’s cancer strategy includes a dedicated chapter for children, teenagers and young adults – a vital recognition that they deserve care designed specifically for them. We’ll continue working with government, the NHS and partners to make sure teenagers and young adults with cancer aren’t forgotten.
Our response
Today (4 February) the Government announced the National Cancer Plan for England.
Teenage Cancer Trust Interim Chief Executive, Julie Worrall, said “By explicitly referencing that young people with cancer have unique needs, the Plan is a vital step forward in reducing cancer’s devastating impact on teenagers and young adults.
“Crucially, the Plan frequently recognises the unique needs and challenges that young people with cancer face and shows their voices have been heard.
“Going forward, clear accountability and dedicated resource will be key to unlocking the Plan’s potential for young people. We look forward to working with the Government to ensure that the Plan’s ambitions lead to real and lasting change, so that young people have the best possible chance of survival and long-term quality of life.”
Clinical trials
We are pleased to see the Plan reflect our calls to ensure more young people with cancer can access clinical trials. Removing barriers that stop young people accessing innovative new treatments could be a potential lifeline for some.
Faster diagnosis
Nearly half of young people must visit the GP three or more times before referral, the most out of any age group. With faster diagnosis key to improving health outcomes, it’s good to see the Plan recognises this is an area where key action is needed. It will be important that measures to address this reflect young people’s experiences.
Mental health support
The commitment to providing personalised care across their lifetimes is important and we hope will address the postcode lottery of psychosocial support young people currently experience.
What we’ve done so far
Last year, to mark Teenage & Young Adult Cancer Awareness Month, we launched our #AndYoungPeople campaign, petitioning the government to ensure teenagers and young adults with cancer were included in the National Cancer Plan for England. This included advocating for: better access to clinical trials, stronger mental health support and improved diagnostic pathways.
Alongside the campaign, in the runup to the National Cancer Plan’s publication, we have also:
- Been part of the Children and Young People’s Cancer Taskforce, which played a crucial part in the development of the National Cancer Plan.
- Worked with MPs and Ministers who have championed our campaigns, fostering cross-party collaboration.
- Organised a Parliamentary Roundtable discussing clinical trials.
- Engaged Teenage Cancer Trust’s Youth Advisory Group, to ensure young people’s voices were part of the conversation in creating the National Cancer Plan.
What we’re doing next
At Teenage Cancer Trust, our work doesn’t stop here. With these commitments now in place, we’re working to make sure promises turn into real change. Ensuring clear accountability and dedicated resource will be key to unlocking the Plan’s potential for young people. We will continue to:
- Hold Government and the NHS to account on delivering improved clinical trial access, stronger mental health provision and better diagnosis.
- Monitor progress of each commitment, to ensure no promises are left to the wayside.
- Call for improved national data collection so that teenagers and young adults are visible in the numbers, not lost between child and adult datasets. This will help us understand better if the plan’s ambitions deliver for young people.
- Campaign so every young person gets a better experience of diagnosis, treatment and support.