26 Jan 2026 Policy

The latest developments and our response

The government is set to launch the National Cancer Plan for England on 4th February. We are urging policymakers to ensure it delivers meaningful change specifically for people with leukaemia.

04/02/2026

Latest update:

Our response:

“We’re delighted that the Plan acknowledges the urgent need to save and improve more lives of people with leukaemia through:

• a dedicated new metric to drive earlier diagnosis by reducing the number of people diagnosed in emergency settings

• a commitment to provide every patient with a personalised needs assessment at diagnosis, followed by a personalised care plan throughout treatment and beyond

These commitments are the result of years of campaigning and the powerful voices of people affected by leukaemia.

We will now work with the government to ensure these promises deliver earlier diagnosis, better survival, and improved quality of life. Together, we will stop leukaemia devastating lives.”

Georgia Papacleovoulou, Head of Policy & Advocacy

You can read the full National Cancer Plan here.

03/02/2026

Latest update:

Our response:

“Leukaemia is the most common type of childhood cancer, accounting for around a third of all cancers in under‑15s. People diagnosed with leukaemia often face higher costs than many other cancers, and this is in part driven by travel for specialist treatment.

Removing these costs for children will make a real difference to families already coping with the shock of a diagnosis and the demands of intensive treatment. We look forward to seeing more detail in the National Cancer Plan and to working with the Government to ensure everyone diagnosed with leukaemia gets the support they need throughout their treatment.”

Georgia Papacleovoulou, Head of Policy & Advocacy

Read more about the governments plan here.

02/02/2026

Latest update:

The Government has announced that patients with rare cancers – including brain cancers –  will have have faster access to clinical trials and breakthrough treatments previously out of reach.

Our response:

We welcome the Government’s commitment to improving access to breakthrough trials for people with rare cancers through the Rare Cancers Bill. For patients with acute myeloid leukaemia (AML), where survival is already among the lowest of all cancers and outcomes are significantly worse in the most deprived communities, access to innovative treatments is vital to closing this gap. We are proud to be supporting the Rare Cancers Bill as it progresses through Parliament, and we are committed to ensuring it truly delivers for people with leukaemia. Leukaemia affects people of all ages — from children to older adults — and includes multiple subtypes with very different needs and outcomes. Across every form of leukaemia, there is an urgent need for new, more effective and kinder treatments so that people not only live longer but live well. This Bill has the potential to accelerate access to research and breakthrough therapies, and we look forward to working with Government and Parliament to help make that ambition a reality for everyone affected by leukaemia.

Georgia Papacleovoulou, Head of Policy & Advocacy

Read more about greater access to trials for rare cancer patients.

29/01/2026

Latest update:

The Government has announced a new 3-year Neighbourhood Early Diagnosis Fund as part of £200 million investment in local cancer care to address the gap in screening uptake and reduce screening inequalities in deprived areas.

Our response:

The Government’s new fund to tackle cancer screening inequalities is a positive step, which has real potential to save lives by reaching communities that have historically been left behind. For blood cancers like acute myeloid leukaemia (AML), we know that survival varies sharply between the most and least deprived areas in the UK.

A simple, quick and low‑cost full blood count is often the first and most effective test to indicate or rule out leukaemia. Ensuring equitable access to this test in deprived areas, supported by clearer diagnostic pathways and technology such as automated clinical prompts, will be essential to reducing inequalities. Addressing these diagnostic gaps will not only improve survival for AML patients but also strengthen NHS efficiency by reducing repeat GP visits and emergency presentations.

Georgia Papacleovoulou, Head of Policy & Advocacy

Read more about the new fund.

26/01/2026

Latest update:

In the lead up to World Cancer Day, the NHS has developed a world-first genetic register to collect patient data on more than 100 genes linked to elevated cancer risk, intending to accelerate screening and testing pathways and expand access to personalised treatments and clinical trials.

Our response:

“We welcome the Government’s announcement to initiate a programme for inherited cancers, particularly its focus on improving identification of inherited risk in solid tumours. This is an important step forward for patients and families.

As this programme develops, it must be extended to include non-stageable cancers, such as blood cancers. For conditions like familial Acute Myeloid Leukaemia (AML) — which affects around 5% of AML patients — inherited risk is not routinely identified or monitored in England.

Ensuring access to genetic testing, counselling and targeted surveillance for these families could enable earlier diagnosis and save lives.

People affected by non-stageable cancers must be included.”

Georgia Papacleovoulou, Head of Policy & Advocacy

Read more about the world’s first genetic programme.

22/01/2026

Latest update:

The government plans to reduce the cancer care postcode lottery by increasing access to specialists in the areas that need them most. New cancer training places will be targeted at NHS trusts with the biggest staff shortages, particularly in rural, coastal and deprived communities in England. This aims to cut waiting times for diagnosis and treatment, improve patient outcomes, and help more people stay in or return to work.

Our response:

“We welcome the Government’s focus on reducing cancer inequalities through earlier diagnosis and expanded training in underserved areas. For leukaemia, a simple, quick and low-cost full blood count is often the first and most effective test to indicate or rule out disease — yet one in four people still face avoidable delays in diagnosis, many of which sit in primary care. Strengthening primary care diagnostic pathways through clearer NICE guidance, better access to full blood counts, and the use of technology such as automated clinical prompts to flag symptoms or abnormal results for urgent escalation would help diagnose leukaemia earlier, improve survival, and reduce pressure on the NHS by cutting repeat GP visits and emergency presentations.”

Georgia Papacleovoulou, Head of Policy & Advocacy

Read more about the postcode lottery for patients.