Cancer cases have reached a record level in the UK, with one charity warning that NHS services are struggling to cope with a rising demand for treatment.

Analysis by Cancer Research UK shows more than 403,000 people are diagnosed with the disease in the country every year – or around one person every 80 seconds.

This is largely due to a growing and ageing population, as people are more likely to develop cancer as they get older, although previous research suggests bowel cancer diagnoses are rising sharply among younger adults.

In its new Cancer in the UK Report 2026, Cancer Research says incidences of all types of cancer have risen from 620 per 100,000 people in a decade (from 610).

Meanwhile, cases diagnosed at an early stage have barely changed, rising from 54% to 55%.

The report said the rise in incidence trends is partly reflected by increasing levels of obesity, which pushes up the risk of cancer.

Death rates have fallen and the proportion of people surviving a decade or more after diagnosis has risen, but Cancer Research UK said this progress is at risk of stalling, in part due to pressure on cancer services.

It adds that cancer waiting times across the UK are among the worst on record, and that NHS services are struggling to cope with rising demand.

The charity said the government’s recently published National Cancer Plan for England is a “crucial step” towards improving care, but there needs to be “funding and resources to translate ambition into impact”.

Cancer Research UK chief executive Michelle Mitchell said: “More people are being diagnosed with cancer than ever before.

“Although cancer survival has doubled since the 1970s, progress has slowed over the last decade.

“The UK government’s recently published National Cancer Plan for England could make a big difference, but only if it turns into improvements for cancer patients.

“Publishing the plan is not a ‘job done’ on cancer: ambitions to diagnose cancers earlier, meet cancer wait targets and improve best practice treatment must happen quickly.”

Read More: Cancer cases reach record high in UK with diagnosis every 80 seconds