People with cancer across the UK have been let down by a ‘cancer postcode lottery’.

As a GP, it really does worry me that where you live can have such a huge impact on your cancer experience.  

Our latest research reveals that 1.4 million people with cancer across the UK have been let down by a ‘cancer postcode lottery’. That is 40% of people with cancer in the UK being left behind, struggling to get the treatment and care that's right for them simply because of where they live^_[i] 

Such inconsistent cancer care is leaving some people with cancer with fewer treatment options, or very little choice but to travel long distances for the treatment they need[ii] Many people face increased costs, stress, anxiety and exhaustion as a result^_[iii].  

And at its most extreme, the UK’s ‘cancer postcode lottery’ could be putting an estimated 100,000 lives at risk – with our latest survey showing that 3% of people with cancer have had to turn down critical cancer tests and treatment simply because they lived too far away^_[iv].  

We also found that if cancer waiting times were as good everywhere in the UK as they are in the best areas, then around 60,000 more people each year would get the treatment they need, when they need it^_[v]. 

For too many people, the harsh reality is that cancer care is beginning to feel like a game of chance – a ‘flip of a coin’ or the need to be ‘in the right place, at the right time’ when it comes to getting the treatment and care they so desperately need. 

Our latest survey reveals that 54% of people with head and neck cancer have been affected by variations in cancer treatment and care. This is significantly higher than the average for people with cancer^_[vi].

While newer treatments for head and neck cancer such as robotic surgery might not be the right option for everyone, they should be made available for those who would benefit. 

Lisa shares her experience of robotic surgery

Lisa Martin, 45, from Lancashire was diagnosed with head and neck cancer in 2018 and was one of the ‘lucky few’ able to benefit from robotic surgery.  

“All I can say is that I was in the right place, at the right time and was given the option to explore robotic surgery – without that, I don’t think I would still be here today.   

“My treatment took 45 minutes, helping me to avoid hours of radical surgery and so many of its life-changing and life-long side effects. Without it I could’ve lost my teeth, had no saliva for life, lost a lot of feeling in my face and I might’ve had to live my life being fed through a tube.   

“I know the treatment I received might not be the best medical option for everyone, but I do believe that everyone with cancer should at least have the same access to all the possibilities that exist in cancer care. Where you live should never limit what is available to you.” 

Shaun had surgery for head and neck cancer

Shaun Donnelly, 38, from Strabane in Northern Ireland, underwent traditional and invasive surgery for head and neck cancer in 2025.   

“After discussing my treatment, a potential 18-hour surgery involving removing part of my jaw and rebuilding it using bone from my leg, I realised how serious it was and was grateful for the experience and skill of the team I was under. 

“This treatment was the only option available to me, and I’d never even heard of robotic surgery until recently. The experience has had a big impact on my life. The structure of my jaw has changed, so my ability to chew will never be the same. Additionally, the nerves in that area have been removed, so something as simple as a kiss with your partner is different now. We jokingly call them 50% kisses as I only feel on my top lip, but I am so grateful to be here. 50% kisses beat no kisses any day of the week.”  

More urgently needs to be done to make cancer care fair. And Macmillan wants to play our part in helping to achieve that. 

Only recently we teamed up with AstraZeneca to look at biomarker testing – a type of cancer testing that can make cancer treatment much more precise. We found widespread variation across the UK in how quickly people got their results. That single inconsistency could spell the difference between one person getting highly effective cancer treatment, and another starting a form of treatment that may never even work for them. We will now be continuing that work to help deliver solutions that will help improve the situation across the UK. 

Variation ultimately means that while one person may be treated on time, another may face months of anxious delays. That one person might easily access the treatment and care they need, while another may have to turn down vital cancer tests and treatment and put their lives at risk simply because they live too far away.  

This is affecting people’s experience of cancer care and, in some cases, the outcomes that can be achieved for them. This is unacceptable, but it is fixable. 

At Macmillan, our aim is to bring UK decision-makers, people with cancer and local communities together to make sure that well-established cancer treatments and tests are made equally available to everyone.  

We need to see urgent action to make cancer care fair. No-one should get left behind simply because of where they live. Everyone deserves the best the UK has to offer, and we are on a mission to make this a reality. 

And we want you to join us.  Sign our pledge to demand fairer cancer care for everyone, no matter their postcode. 

Sign our pledge