Publish date: 27 July 2026
The Lancashire and South Cumbria Cancer Alliance is celebrating significant progress in its main aim of diagnosing cancer earlier, after the latest data showed the area recorded the biggest improvement in England.
The proportion of cancers diagnosed at an early stage in the region has increased from 53.6 per cent to 56.3 per cent between March 2025 and March 2026.
The improvement follows sustained partnership working between NHS services, primary care, voluntary, community, faith, and social enterprise (VCFSE) organisations and local authorities across Lancashire and South Cumbria. Together, they have worked to increase awareness of cancer signs and symptoms, encourage people to take up cancer screening when invited, reduce barriers to seeking help and ensure people receive the right information and support to come forward earlier if they notice any potential symptoms.
Dr Neil Smith, Primary Care Director at Lancashire and South Cumbria Cancer Alliance, said: “I have been involved in cancer services for many years and I have never seen an improvement as impressive as this.
“These figures are both uplifting and a real testament to the vision of our early diagnosis team, and to the hard work of primary care, clinicians, and our partners across Lancashire and South Cumbria.”
Previous data showed Lancashire and South Cumbria had the lowest rates of early-stage diagnosis of all areas of the country, but the past 12 months’ performance has moved it ahead of two other regions.
Early diagnosis is one of the most important ways to improve cancer outcomes, because cancers found at stage 1 or stage 2 are more treatable and more likely to result in a positive outcome for patients.
Dr Smith adds: “We know our population has historically faced some of the toughest challenges in cancer outcomes, so this progress deserves to be celebrated.
“It gives us faith in our approach, as we reinforce the message that early diagnosis saves lives - anyone who notices a new or persistent symptom should contact their GP practice as soon as possible.”
Lancashire and South Cumbria Cancer Alliance’s Check It. Don’t Chance It – Act on Cancer campaign has been delivered in partnership with VCSFE organisations, helping to take cancer awareness into local communities. By working with trusted organisations that already have strong relationships with residents, partners have encouraged more people to have conversations about cancer, recognise possible symptoms, attend screening appointments and contact their GP without delay.
The continued success of this collaborative approach demonstrates the value of strong partnership working across the NHS and the VCSFE sector.
The progress also comes shortly after the publication of the 2025 National Cancer Patient Experience Survey results, which showed patients in Lancashire and South Cumbria reporting a generally positive experience of cancer care, and rating their care at an average of nine out of 10 – slightly above the national average of 8.9.
