Macmillan warns postcode lottery in UK cancer care
Macmillan Cancer Support is warning that almost 1.4 million people with cancer across the UK are being let down by what it calls a ‘cancer postcode lottery’.
The charity says that 40 per cent of people with cancer have struggled to access treatment or care because of where they live. In some cases, patients face long journeys, additional costs, stress and exhaustion to get the treatment they need.
At its most severe, the charity warns that an estimated 100,000 lives could be at risk, with survey data showing that three per cent of people with cancer have had to turn down critical tests or treatment because services were too far away.
Dr Anthony Cunliffe, Macmillan’s Lead Medical Adviser, said: “We need to see urgent action taken to make cancer care fair. Everyone with cancer should get the best possible care the UK has to offer. Everyone should get the treatment that is right for them. No-one should get left behind simply because of where they live.”
Macmillan’s analysis suggests that if cancer waiting times across the UK matched the standards set by the best performing areas, around 60,000 more people each year could receive timely treatment.
The charity’s new data also points to major inconsistencies in the availability of established treatments, and in the roll-out of innovative new approaches, which it says could affect patient outcomes, recovery and quality of life.
Lisa Martin, 45, from Lancashire, who was diagnosed with head and neck cancer in 2018, said: “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 surgery took just 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.”
Shaun Doherty, 38, from Strabane in Northern Ireland, underwent traditional surgery for head and neck cancer in 2025. He said: “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.”
Macmillan says it is working to improve cancer care through research, partnerships and increased specialist services, but is calling on governments and health providers across the UK to tackle inequalities in diagnosis and treatment.
For information, support or someone to talk to, Macmillan Cancer Support can be contacted on 0808 808 00 00 or at macmillan.org.uk/whateveryouneed
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