BRITAIN’S progress in improving cancer survival rates is slower now than it has been for 50 years, according to a study published today.

A report commissioned by Cancer Research UK report found that cancer waiting times across the country are among the worst on record. 

It also found that too many cancers are diagnosed at a late stage and that access to treatment is unequal. 

The charity predicts that cancer cases will rise by a fifth, to about 506,000 by 2040.

It said that four in 10 cancer cases are preventable, with many cases driven by smoking, obesity, sun exposure, alcohol intake, poor diets and lack of exercise.

Cancer Research UK chief executive Michelle Mitchell said it was “worrying” that the rate of improvement has slowed in recent years, and that cancer patients now face “anxious and historically long” waits for tests and treatments.

The charity has urged for the establishment of a National Cancer Council for England to reduce waiting times and has called for a 10-year strategy focused on prevention, diagnosis, and treatment.