In January alone over 800 people in Wales waited more than two months to start cancer treatment

Responding to the latest NHS Wales Cancer Waiting Times figures, Kate Seymour, Head of External Affairs at Macmillan Cancer Support, said:

“Winter pressures often take their toll in January as the cold weather puts an even greater strain on an already stretched healthcare system. In January alone, more than 800 people in Wales waited more than two months to start treatment after first being suspected of having cancer, which is far too many at what is already a difficult time.

“We must see urgent delivery of the Cancer Improvement Plan. We also need to know how the new National Cancer Leadership Board, set up following the highly critical Audit Wales report, will tackle these completely unacceptable delays.

“People in Wales deserve to see world-class cancer care become a reality, no matter who they are or where they live.”

• Macmillan’s recent analysis has revealed the number of people living with cancer in the UK has surged to almost 3.5 million, the highest figure ever reported for the UK and including around 190,000 people in Wales[i].

• If you or someone you love is affected by cancer, we’re here, whatever you need to ask. Call Macmillan’s free support line on 0808 808 00 00, open every day 8am to 8pm or visit our website at www.macmillan.org.uk.

• Macmillan’s analysis of today’s official NHS data shows that performance against the national cancer waiting times target in Wales improved slightly in January compared with the same month last year, however the target was still missed by a substantial margin and performance was worse than in December, showing NHS cancer services in Wales remain under intense pressure[ii]
• In January, more than 800 people with cancer in Wales waited too long to start treatment[iii]
• Despite some recent improvements the national cancer waiting times target was missed again in Wales in 2024 as a whole, and average monthly performance in 2024 was still worse than when the target was first introduced in 2021[iv]
• Other recent figures from Macmillan Cancer Support show that half of people currently having cancer treatment in the UK (50%) are worried about general pressures on the NHS affecting their chances of survival[v]
• For some cancer types, performance in Wales remains particularly concerning. For example, in January 2025 only 38% of people with head and neck cancer, 38% of people with urological cancer and 41% of people with lower gastrointestinal cancer started their treatment within 62 days from first being suspected of having cancer[vi]
• Previous Macmillan analysis shows that survival rates for at least two common types of cancer in Wales (colon and rectal cancer in women) are only just now reaching the levels that Sweden and Norway were already achieving in the early 2000s[vii]