What the new England Cancer Plan could mean for people affected by leukaemia
Today, the new National Cancer Plan for England has been published, coinciding with World Cancer Day.
General news - 04 Feb 2026 - Leukaemia Care
The plan sets out how cancer services in England will be improved over the coming years, with a strong focus on earlier diagnosis, better survival outcomes, and helping people live well with and beyond cancer.
Many of the themes discussed are particularly important for people affected by leukaemia and other blood cancers.
A renewed focus on earlier diagnosis
One of the most significant developments for blood cancer patients is the plan’s commitment to reducing emergency diagnoses as a route to earlier detection.
Leukaemia is more likely than many other cancers to be diagnosed via emergency presentation. This often reflects the non-specific nature of symptoms and a lack of awareness, which can lead to delayed diagnosis and poorer outcomes.
The plan recognises earlier diagnosis as a key mechanism for improving survival and overall outcomes. This includes:
- Improving diagnostic capacity and pathway efficiency
- Supporting primary and emergency care to recognise cancer sooner
- Addressing inequalities in access to timely diagnosis
This focus closely aligns with our Spot Leukaemia campaign, which aims to improve awareness of leukaemia symptoms among both the public and healthcare professionals, helping people get diagnosed earlier and avoid emergency routes where possible.
Living well with and beyond leukaemia
Beyond diagnosis and treatment, the England Cancer Plan places strong emphasis on quality of life and personalised care, recognising that survival alone is not enough.
The plan includes commitments to:
- More personalised and joined-up cancer care
- Better use of patient-reported outcomes and experiences to measure what really matters to people
- Improved access to rehabilitation, psychological support, and employment advice
- Families of children and young people with cancer having their hospital travel costs covered
- Direct referrals to charities that can support patients
- Clearer pathways and support for people living with cancer as a long-term condition
For people affected by leukaemia, this is vital. Many face long treatment pathways, ongoing monitoring, late effects, fatigue, mental health challenges, and disruption to work and family life.
At Leukaemia Care, supporting people to live well with leukaemia is central to our work. Our services already provide:
- Emotional and practical support through our free helpline
- One-to-one buddy support from trained volunteers with lived experience
- Information and resources to help people understand their diagnosis, treatment, and life after treatment
- Advocacy and welfare guidance, including support with benefits, work, and financial concerns
Rare and less common cancers - including leukaemia
The cancer plan also dedicates a focus to rare and less common cancers, with commitments to improve survival, reduce variation in care, and strengthen research and innovation.
This includes:
- Improving access to specialist expertise
- Better use of genomics and diagnostic innovation
- Increased access to clinical trials
- Stronger data and measurement for rare cancers
Leukaemia must be fully reflected within this work. We have consistently called for better data breakdowns and visibility for different leukaemia subtypes, so that no group is overlooked in national planning or performance measures.
Leukaemia Care will continue to engage with policymakers and NHS leaders to ensure that the needs of people with leukaemia are recognised and addressed.
Turning ambition into action
The England Cancer Plan sets out ambitious goals, including improving survival, meeting cancer waiting time standards, and ensuring more people can live well with cancer. For people affected by leukaemia, success will depend on how these commitments are implemented in practice.
Now that the England Cancer Plan has been published, we will be watching closely as the plan is rolled out. We call on NHS and government partners to work with us to ensure these commitments translate into real, measurable improvements for everyone affected by leukaemia.
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