{"links":{"self":"https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions.json?q=Cancer+&state=with_response","first":"https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions.json?q=Cancer+&state=with_response","last":"https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions.json?q=Cancer+&state=with_response","next":null,"prev":null},"data":[{"type":"petition","id":769589,"links":{"self":"https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/769589.json"},"attributes":{"action":"End the mandatory fortification of white flour with folic acid immediately","background":"We call on the Government to stop the fortification of flour with synthetic folic acid. Folic acid is a medicine not a food. We believe it is unethical to mass medicate the entire population without their knowledge or consent in the hope that a minority group of people might see a benefit.","additional_details":"The NHS website lists sections of the population (including people with cancer, a stent or low vitamin B12 levels) who should avoid folic acid exposure because of possible detrimental health impacts. Even if these people are aware of the issue, it is becoming harder to avoid as wholemeal and gluten free products are voluntarily adding folic acid. ","committee_note":"","state":"open","signature_count":41335,"closing_date":"2026-12-08","created_at":"2026-05-11T11:31:25.296Z","updated_at":"2026-07-21T10:36:50.000Z","rejected_at":null,"opened_at":"2026-06-08T14:36:09.331Z","closed_at":null,"moderation_threshold_reached_at":"2026-05-11T11:47:50.000Z","response_threshold_reached_at":"2026-06-12T15:02:50.000Z","government_response_at":"2026-06-29T12:21:00.293Z","debate_threshold_reached_at":null,"debate_scheduled_on":null,"scheduled_debate_date":null,"debate_outcome_at":null,"creator_name":"Dr Clare Craig","rejection":null,"government_response":{"responded_on":"2026-06-29","summary":"Folic acid fortification is an evidenced public health measure, not a medical intervention. The policy applies to non-wholemeal flour, reflecting the flour-type already subject to fortification.","details":"The UK Government is mandating fortification of non-wholemeal wheat flour with folic acid with the primary objective to increase folic acid intake among women of childbearing age, thereby improving blood folate levels and reducing the risk of neural tube defects (NTDs) during pregnancy. The policy is projected to prevent around 200 NTD-affected pregnancies annually—approximately 20 per cent of UK cases. The population-level policy will have the wider benefit of increasing the intake of folic acid and improving folate status across the whole population. Folate, including folic acid, plays an important role in forming healthy red blood cells and maintaining brain health.\n\nPrevious efforts through public health campaigns to promote supplementation, as well as voluntary fortification by manufacturers, have had limited success. Despite longstanding UK public health advice recommending a daily supplement of 400 micrograms of folic acid before conception and during early pregnancy, uptake remains suboptimal, particularly among younger women and those from lower socio-economic backgrounds. Since almost half of pregnancies in the UK are unplanned, many women may not take supplements during the critical early weeks of gestation.\n\nThe policy has been carefully designed to be proportionate, targeting non-wholemeal wheat flour because it is widely consumed across the population and is the most effective vehicle for delivering the intended public health benefits. This approach is consistent with long-standing UK fortification requirements for wheat flour, including the mandatory addition of calcium, iron, niacin and thiamine, which also apply to non-wholemeal wheat flour produced to organic standards. Not fortifying wider than the type of flour that is presently fortified, means that individuals can avoid fortified flour if they choose to or need to. This includes wholemeal flour, gluten-free products and other flour types such as soya or spelt flour.\n\nTo ensure people can easily identify products that are suitable for them, added vitamins and minerals, including folic acid, must be labelled in the product’s ingredients list. This must also be declared when fortified flour is used as an ingredient.\n\nThe decision to fortify non-wholemeal wheat flour with folic acid has a long history and has been considered both by the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN), which advises the four UK governments on nutrition-related matters, and its predecessor, the Committee on Medical Aspects of Food and Nutrition Policy. Folic acid fortification was recommended by the SACN in 2006, after an extensive review of the evidence on folate and health, which is available at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/sacn-folate-and-disease-prevention-report. Since then, there have been several further evidence reviews and modelling work (for example: https://www.foodstandards.gov.scot/science-and-evidence/stochastic-modelling-to-estimate-the-potential-impact-of-fortification-of-flour-with-folic-acid-in-the-uk) to establish the level of folic acid to be added to flour, as well as to address concerns about potential adverse effects.\n\nThe policy has been subject to public consultations, including the 2019 Department of Health and Social Care and devolved governments consultation (available at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/adding-folic-acid-to-flour/outcome/proposal-to-add-folic-acid-to-flour-consultation-response) on the proposal to fortify flour with folic acid (including a question on the effect on small businesses), and the 2022 Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra)-led consultation on the Bread and Flour Regulations. These consultations allowed members of the public, industry and health professionals to provide feedback and were a key part of policy development. Feedback to the Defra consultation highlighted consumer choice as a key concern. Limiting mandatory fortification to non-wholemeal wheat flour helps preserve choice by maintaining the availability of unfortified wholemeal and non-wheat flours. In addition, the policy does not apply to flour produced by small mills (definition based on their limited production capacity).\n\nThe NHS provides guidance for individuals who may need to avoid folic acid, for example, due to specific medical conditions or interactions with medication. People in this situation are advised to seek advice from a healthcare professional. Foods in the UK have been voluntarily fortified with folic acid for many years, including products such as breakfast cereals and spreads, without evidence of adverse health effects.\n\nThe UK Government and devolved governments are exploring how we will evaluate the impact of the policy.\n\nDepartment of Health & Social Care","created_at":"2026-06-29T12:21:00.287Z","updated_at":"2026-06-29T12:21:52.418Z"},"debate":null,"departments":[{"acronym":"DHSC","name":"Department of Health and Social Care","url":"https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-of-health-and-social-care"}],"topics":[]}},{"type":"petition","id":765360,"links":{"self":"https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/765360.json"},"attributes":{"action":"Mandate standardised cancer training for all GPs in England","background":"We ask the Government to mandate cancer training for all GPs in England, requiring all GPs to complete mandatory, standardised training on cancer red-flag symptoms, with formal assessment, regular revalidation, NHS England regulation, and GMC linkage to improve early diagnosis.","additional_details":"Early cancer diagnosis saves lives, yet delays in primary care remain. There is no mandatory, standardised training for GPs on cancer red-flag symptoms or reassessment. We call for nationally mandated, assessed, and regularly updated training to improve recognition, reduce delays, and improve patient outcomes, especially for children and young people.","committee_note":"","state":"open","signature_count":16094,"closing_date":"2026-11-01","created_at":"2026-03-25T18:12:06.727Z","updated_at":"2026-07-21T10:38:00.000Z","rejected_at":null,"opened_at":"2026-05-01T13:24:38.052Z","closed_at":null,"moderation_threshold_reached_at":"2026-03-25T18:27:50.000Z","response_threshold_reached_at":"2026-05-27T14:47:00.000Z","government_response_at":"2026-06-09T09:24:41.265Z","debate_threshold_reached_at":null,"debate_scheduled_on":null,"scheduled_debate_date":null,"debate_outcome_at":null,"creator_name":"Natasha Hill","rejection":null,"government_response":{"responded_on":"2026-06-09","summary":"It is crucial that GPs are able to identify cancer symptoms early. Our National Cancer Plan and Jess’s Rule support this. Standards and training for GPs are led by regulatory and professional bodies.","details":"Alongside the relevant bodies which set the standards and training curricula that doctors must follow, the Government is taking action to improve early diagnosis through the National Cancer Plan for England and the introduction of Jess’s Rule. While the requests of the petitioners sit outside the direct remit of Government, we are committed to improving the diagnosis, treatment, and outcomes of people with cancer of all ages.\n\nThe National Cancer Plan for England, published earlier this year, sets out a comprehensive ten-year strategy to transform cancer outcomes across the country. It focuses on earlier diagnosis, faster treatment, better survival rates, and reducing inequalities in cancer care, with a firmly patient-centred approach.\n\nThe Government’s central ambition is that by 2035, three in four people diagnosed with cancer will be cancer-free or living well five years after diagnosis – up from roughly 60 per cent today. Achieving this would save hundreds of thousands of lives and make England a world leader in cancer survival. Improving outcomes in primary care will play a key role in this.\n\nThrough initiatives in the National Cancer Plan, primary care teams will be equipped to spot signs that could indicate cancer. The Plan commits to continued support for the Gateway C digital training platform. A new generation of digital support tools will help flag concerning symptoms or test results in general practice. In addition, from 2026 we will pilot an incentive encouraging the use of electronic safety netting to increase the number of people who complete checks for bowel cancer.\n\nIn September 2025, we introduced Jess’s Rule in memory of Jess Brady, who passed away due to cancer in December 2020.\n\nJess’s Rule (three strikes and we rethink) encourages GP teams to re-evaluate why the patient’s condition remains unresolved and/or consider why their symptoms are escalating. It promotes consistency of care but also prompts GP teams to consult with one another to jointly reconsider any red flags that have been missed that could point to another diagnosis, and to challenge any assumptions that may have been made based on a patient’s age or demographic.\n\nAs a part of the implementation of Jess’s Rule, the Royal College of General Practitioners, along with the Jessica Brady CEDAR Trust, developed a learning module to support earlier cancer diagnosis in young adults. The Jessica Brady CEDAR Trust have also produced a training video on Jess’s Rule to support the delivery and implementation of the rule.\n\nThe General Medical Council (GMC) is the regulator of all medical doctors, physician assistants (PAs) and physician assistants in anaesthesia (PAAs) (still legally known as anaesthesia associates and physician associates) practising in the UK. It sets and enforces the standards all doctors, PAs and PAAs must adhere to. The GMC is independent of Government, directly accountable to Parliament, and is responsible for operational matters concerning the discharge of its statutory duties.\n\nFrom the academic year 2024-25, the GMC introduced the Medical Licensing Assessment (MLA), which creates a framework for testing the core knowledge, skills, and behaviours of doctors who want to practise in the UK. An updated MLA comes into force for medical students from September 2026. The GMC does not deliver, design, or commission education and training. Each medical college sets its own undergraduate curriculum.\n\nThe training curriculum for postgraduate trainee GPs is set by the Royal College of General Practitioners, and has to meet the standards set by the General Medical Council. The RCGP provides a number of resources on cancer prevention, diagnosis, and care for GPs, relevant for the primary care setting.\n\nAll UK-registered doctors are expected to meet the professional standards set out in the GMC’s Good Medical Practice. In 2012, the GMC introduced revalidation which supports doctors in regularly reflecting on how they can develop or improve their practice, giving patients confidence doctors are up to date with their practice and promoting improved quality of care by driving improvements in clinical governance.\n\nQualified GPs are subject to these revalidation requirements overseen by the GMC with the process led by the RCGP; continuous professional development is a cornerstone of demonstrating suitability to continue to practice safely. For GPs, the RCGP advises that learning stretches across the GP curriculum over the five-year cycle, informed by a wide variety of sources and kept up to date as part of normal professional practice.\n\nGPs are responsible for ensuring their own clinical knowledge remains up to date and for identifying learning needs as part of their continuing professional development. This activity should include taking account of new research and developments in guidance, such as that produced by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, to ensure that they can continue to provide high quality care to all patients.\n\nDepartment of Health and Social Care","created_at":"2026-06-09T09:24:41.262Z","updated_at":"2026-06-09T09:27:52.575Z"},"debate":null,"departments":[{"acronym":"DHSC","name":"Department of Health and Social Care","url":"https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-of-health-and-social-care"}],"topics":[]}},{"type":"petition","id":743337,"links":{"self":"https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/743337.json"},"attributes":{"action":" Fund free dental care for head & neck cancer patients  ","background":"We want the Government to fund free dental care for head and neck cancer patients both during and after treatment to address the significant oral health challenges that survivors may face, and to improve their overall quality of life.","additional_details":"Head and neck cancer treatments, such as surgery, radiation and chemotherapy, can result in long-term oral health issues, including dry mouth, tooth decay and infections. These conditions can severely affect survivors' quality of life, their self-esteem and ability to eat, speak. Providing free dental care could ensure patients have access to essential treatments, improve their health outcomes, and reduce the financial burden, similar to other cancer types already covered by healthcare services.","committee_note":"","state":"closed","signature_count":11694,"created_at":"2025-09-26T10:06:31.621Z","updated_at":"2026-05-01T09:06:20.000Z","rejected_at":null,"opened_at":"2025-10-30T10:02:43.012Z","closed_at":"2026-04-30T22:59:59.999Z","moderation_threshold_reached_at":"2025-09-28T10:12:20.000Z","response_threshold_reached_at":"2026-02-12T09:42:40.000Z","government_response_at":"2026-03-05T11:08:00.998Z","debate_threshold_reached_at":null,"debate_scheduled_on":null,"scheduled_debate_date":null,"debate_outcome_at":null,"creator_name":null,"rejection":null,"government_response":{"responded_on":"2026-03-05","summary":"We understand the importance of oral care for cancer patients. There are no current plans to extend free care to cancer patients, although those struggling with NHS dental costs can apply for help.","details":"The Government recognises that patients with cancer, especially those with diagnoses of head or neck cancer, may be more vulnerable to oral health problems during and following their treatment. We are working across the system to ensure that patients who have a diagnosis of cancer receive timely, safe, and effective dental care.\n\nIntegrated care boards (ICBs) are responsible for commissioning primary care services, including NHS dentistry, to meet the needs of local populations and to determine the priorities for investment. NHS England has published guidance for ICBs to help ensure patients with a diagnosis of cancer can access oral healthcare in a timely manner. This guidance is available at the following link: https://www.england.nhs.uk/long-read/oral-healthcare-provision-for-cancer-pathways/. The guidance outlines an “oral health in cancer pathway” for patients with a diagnosis of head and neck cancer, patients awaiting chemotherapy or immunotherapy for any cancer type, and patients that will undergo bone marrow transplantation. This pathway could include oral health assessments, prevention, rehabilitation, and reconstruction in primary (NHS or independent), community, secondary, or tertiary care settings. This would be provided as part of a multi-disciplinary team care plan. Ongoing oral health management for the duration of the cancer therapy would take place.\n\nWhilst there are currently no plans to extend free dental care to those with a diagnosis of head or neck cancer, for those who are struggling with NHS dental charges, there is a range of help available. This includes full exemptions from dental charges and, for those not eligible for exemption, support through the NHS Low Income Scheme.\n\nExemptions are currently available for those who meet the following criteria:\n• people aged under 18, or under 19 and in full-time education\n• people who are pregnant or have had a baby in the last 12 months\n• people who have had a stillbirth in the past 12 months\n• people receiving treatment in an NHS hospital from a hospital dentist (although these patients may still need to pay for dentures or bridges)\n• people receiving War Pension Scheme payments, or Armed Forces Compensation Scheme payments, and for whom the treatment is for their accepted disability\n• people in receipt of certain benefits\n\nFor those who are not eligible for a full exemption, either full or partial support with the costs of NHS dental treatment is available through the NHS Low Income Scheme, information about which is available at the following link: https://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/nhs-low-income-scheme.\n\nFurther information on the help available can be found at the following link: https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/dentists/get-help-with-dental-costs/.\n\nIn addition, in the 10 Year Health Plan, the Government committed to providing more readily accessible, good quality care to those most in need. In line with this, we are working to transform NHS dentistry so it provides high quality care at the right time, and so nobody goes without because they cannot afford it.\n\nDepartment of Health and Social Care","created_at":"2026-03-05T11:08:00.993Z","updated_at":"2026-03-05T11:08:00.993Z"},"debate":null,"departments":[{"acronym":"DHSC","name":"Department of Health and Social Care","url":"https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-of-health-and-social-care"}],"topics":[]}},{"type":"petition","id":751472,"links":{"self":"https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/751472.json"},"attributes":{"action":"Introduce a screening programme for prostate cancer, starting with high-risk men","background":"We are calling on the Government to reassess the UK National Screening Committee’s (UK NSC) draft recommendation not to offer prostate cancer screening to anyone except men with BRCA1/2 genetic variants, and to introduce screening for all high-risk men.","additional_details":"Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in men yet has no screening programme.\r\n\r\nWe disagree with the UK NSC’s analysis of the evidence and the weight it has placed on avoiding unintended harms. We believe the Committee has fixated on potential harms that have already dramatically reduced, while under-weighting the very real benefits of early detection. The analysis has not kept pace with modern practice or acknowledged how this would be an improvement on the current inefficient and inequitable system.\r\n\r\nTargeted screening for all high-risk men should be the starting point for building a screening programme that can ultimately protect all men. Early diagnosis saves lives.","committee_note":"","state":"closed","signature_count":101932,"created_at":"2025-11-22T09:01:51.375Z","updated_at":"2026-07-14T15:34:10.000Z","rejected_at":null,"opened_at":"2026-01-13T11:30:15.340Z","closed_at":"2026-07-13T22:59:59.999Z","moderation_threshold_reached_at":"2025-11-22T09:47:40.000Z","response_threshold_reached_at":"2026-02-06T20:52:10.000Z","government_response_at":"2026-02-26T16:02:12.935Z","debate_threshold_reached_at":"2026-07-05T14:12:30.000Z","debate_scheduled_on":null,"scheduled_debate_date":null,"debate_outcome_at":null,"creator_name":null,"rejection":null,"government_response":{"responded_on":"2026-02-26","summary":"The UK National Screening Committee consulted on a draft prostate cancer screening recommendation and will make a final recommendation soon. The Government will then consider whether to accept it.","details":"The UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC) makes recommendations to ministers and the NHS across the four nations of the United Kingdom, based on an assessment of high-quality, peer reviewed evidence on whether screening for a certain condition would do more good than harm at reasonable cost. The UK NSC considered the current diagnostic and treatment pathways and consulted on their findings. The evidence package can be found at https://nationalscreening.blog.gov.uk/2025/11/28/uk-nsc-opens-consultation-on-draft-prostate-cancer-screening-recommendation/ \n\nScreening is specifically for people without symptoms or a diagnosis. The process must therefore minimise harm, such as unnecessary treatment or anxiety resulting from false positive test results. This level of caution is less relevant for people with diagnosed conditions or already in clinical care. They have sought clinical care or advice for a problem. They are in direct contact with a clinician so they can discuss the merits or otherwise of tests and treatments, rather than simply being provided with generic information to read. They have symptoms or a reason for concern. This means their test is much more likely to represent a true positive result, unlike in screening when people have a greater chance of receiving a false positive result. People in clinical care expect follow-up and face a smaller risk of harm from predictive tests. The ethical position, the ability of an individual to discuss issues with a clinician, and the likelihood of having a condition, all therefore differ significantly between clinical management and screening. Screening can do harm, as well as good (benefit). It is also possible for someone to experience both the harms and benefits of screening at the same time. For example, a man may live longer due to their prostate cancer being identified and treated but also live with serious side effects of treatment.\n\nThe aim of prostate cancer screening would be to detect prostate cancer early to prevent death and reduce suffering from the disease. For men with aggressive and/or advanced prostate cancer, early intervention and treatment can allow them to live longer by preventing prostate cancer death. It can also reduce the chances of serious complications such as prostate cancer spreading to other parts of the body. Prostate cancer can spread to the area just outside the prostate (locally advanced or locally invasive cancer), and cause symptoms such as erectile dysfunction, difficulties emptying the bladder and pain. It can also spread further (metastatic cancer), most commonly to the bones and spine, where it can cause severe pain, fractures, or spinal cord compression. Just over one in ten (12% of) men diagnosed with prostate cancer in England have metastatic prostate cancer at the time of their diagnosis. These are important, serious outcomes that screening and treatment would try to prevent.\n\nThere have been very large research trials of population screening in England and the United States of America. These studies show that there is a very small reduction in deaths after 15 years from prostate cancer in screened men (two out of one thousand). There are also several harms associated with screening. These arise from the additional tests that men go through to get a prostate cancer diagnosis (including a biopsy of the prostate) and the treatment they may then receive. Harms can arise as early as two weeks after beginning treatment, and can persist for a very long time (six years or more, or possibly a lifetime). For example, after six months:\n\n• For men undergoing prostate surgery:\no   19% (almost one in five) will be unable to control their bladder (moderate to severe urinary incontinence)\no   3% will have moderate to severe impacts on their bowel habits\no   66% (two thirds) will experience moderate or severe erectile dysfunction\n\n• For men undergoing radiotherapy:\no   38% (nearly two in every five) will find it difficult to control their bladder\no   6% will have moderate to severe urinary incontinence\no   5% will have moderate to severe impacts on their bowel habits\no   48% (nearly half) will have moderate or severe erectile dysfunction\n\nThe majority of men (c.80%) whose prostate cancers would be identified through screening would not benefit in terms of preventing prostate cancer deaths and metastasis. Many of these men would receive treatment they do not need and the harms of screening would quickly outweigh any benefits at a population level. The challenge is how to identify those men who have aggressive prostate cancer while minimising the risks of serious and long-lasting side effects for many other men. More information on how the benefits and harms of prostate cancer screening were considered within the prostate cancer screening model can be found in the UK NSC evidence papers.\n\nThe UK NSC will make a final recommendation soon, after which the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care will consider whether to accept and implement the recommendation.\n\nDepartment of Health and Social Care","created_at":"2026-02-26T16:02:12.928Z","updated_at":"2026-02-26T16:02:12.928Z"},"debate":null,"departments":[{"acronym":"DHSC","name":"Department of Health and Social Care","url":"https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-of-health-and-social-care"}],"topics":[]}},{"type":"petition","id":742179,"links":{"self":"https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/742179.json"},"attributes":{"action":"Lower the age for invites to regular mammograms to 40 & perform annually","background":"Lower the age for when you are first called to 40 and provide funding to carry out Mammograms Annually instead of every Three Years","additional_details":"Early detection is key and the prevalence of Breast Cancer in young patients is rising\r\nI am a Chemotherapy Nurse and working in this Clinical Setting for 8 Years and I have seen a rise in Breast Cancer in Patients under the Age of 40 increase.\r\nEarly detection is key in identifying those Aggressive forms of Breast Cancer\r\n","committee_note":"","state":"closed","signature_count":106212,"created_at":"2025-09-20T08:21:09.508Z","updated_at":"2026-07-16T15:41:47.459Z","rejected_at":null,"opened_at":"2025-10-09T09:53:10.035Z","closed_at":"2026-04-09T22:59:59.999Z","moderation_threshold_reached_at":"2025-09-20T08:41:10.000Z","response_threshold_reached_at":"2025-11-05T09:30:20.000Z","government_response_at":"2025-11-21T11:29:44.277Z","debate_threshold_reached_at":"2026-02-24T21:09:30.000Z","debate_scheduled_on":"2026-05-21","scheduled_debate_date":"2026-06-29","debate_outcome_at":"2026-07-15T10:09:26.926Z","creator_name":null,"rejection":null,"government_response":{"responded_on":"2025-11-21","summary":"In line with independent advice from the UK National Screening Committee, the Government does not intend to lower the age or increase the frequency of breast screens.","details":"The Government is guided by the independent scientific advice of the UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC), and it is only where the offer to screen provides more good than harm that a screening programme is recommended. The UK NSC makes its recommendations based on internationally recognised criteria and a rigorous evidence review and consultation process.\n\nAs screening programmes can also cause harms, each of the adult screening programmes has both an upper and lower age range, within which there is good scientific evidence that the benefits of screening outweigh the harms.\n\nWomen younger than the age of 50 are not routinely screened for breast cancer due to the lower risk of women under this age developing breast cancer, and the fact that women below 50 tend to have denser breasts. The denseness of breast tissue reduces the ability of getting an accurate mammogram, the accepted screening test for breast cancer.\n\nDue to this and other factors, there is a risk of over treatment and distress for women who do not have breast cancer but would be subjected to invasive and painful medical treatments and diagnostic tests.\n\nThe 2012 UK independent review of breast cancer screening (the Marmot review) estimated that inviting women aged 50-70 reduces mortality from breast cancer in the population invited by 20% and saves an estimated 1,300 lives a year. The Marmot review found that screening women outside the ages of 50-70 could lead to over-diagnosis (referring women for unnecessary tests) and over-treatment (operating on women with disease which is unlikely to cause serious harm to them).\n\nWe are in line with most European countries, most of whom screen women between the ages of 50-69.\n\nWomen with a very high risk of breast cancer (for example, due to family history) may be offered screening earlier and more frequently, sometimes using MRI rather than a mammogram.\n\nThe UK NSC keeps these age brackets under review. The Committee recognises that screening programmes are not static and that, over time, they may need to change to be more effective.\n\nThe UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC) reviewed the evidence relating to the provision of additional breast screening for women who have dense breast tissue in the summer of 2025 and invited stakeholders’ feedback on the findings to inform future work. In addition, the AgeX – age extension – breast screening research trial has been looking at the effectiveness of offering some women an extra screen between the ages of 47 and 49, and between the ages of 71 and 73. When the results are available, the report will be reviewed by the UK NSC.\n\nDepartment of Health and Social Care","created_at":"2025-11-21T11:29:44.275Z","updated_at":"2025-11-21T11:29:44.275Z"},"debate":{"debated_on":"2026-06-29","transcript_url":"https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/2026-06-29/debates/B836AF42-165A-4BC6-BAED-445BD5DA2C37/NHSBreastScreening","video_url":"https://www.youtube.com/live/_l8IMAtZrk4","debate_pack_url":"https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/cbp-10922/","public_engagement_url":"","debate_summary_url":"","overview":""},"departments":[{"acronym":"DHSC","name":"Department of Health and Social Care","url":"https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-of-health-and-social-care"}],"topics":[]}},{"type":"petition","id":738881,"links":{"self":"https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/738881.json"},"attributes":{"action":"Invest in brain cancer and give rights – turn terminal into treatable","background":"Brain cancer is the biggest cancer killer of children and adults under 40, 87% with a high-grade brain tumour diagnosis die within 5 yrs, and yet it gets just 1% of the national spend on cancer.","additional_details":"We call on the government to increase research funding and legally enshrine the right to try: genome sequencing, trials, immunotherapy, repurposed drugs and vaccines.\r\n1. Increase brain cancer funding to speed up discoveries and trials.\r\n2. Funding so every patient can access whole genome sequencing with personalised treatment.\r\n3. Enshrine the Right to Try innovative treatments.\r\n\r\nTreatments haven’t changed in decades. Increase funding and give patients a fighting chance.","committee_note":"","state":"closed","signature_count":109063,"created_at":"2025-08-23T10:25:22.364Z","updated_at":"2026-06-16T13:30:02.206Z","rejected_at":null,"opened_at":"2025-09-08T12:10:38.559Z","closed_at":"2026-03-08T23:59:59.999Z","moderation_threshold_reached_at":"2025-08-23T16:25:30.000Z","response_threshold_reached_at":"2025-09-09T20:39:00.000Z","government_response_at":"2025-10-03T10:55:37.025Z","debate_threshold_reached_at":"2026-02-26T22:45:50.000Z","debate_scheduled_on":"2026-05-21","scheduled_debate_date":"2026-06-15","debate_outcome_at":"2026-06-16T13:29:59.575Z","creator_name":null,"rejection":null,"government_response":{"responded_on":"2025-10-03","summary":"Every brain cancer diagnosis has life-changing impact on patients and their families. Research is vital to ensure people can get the most effective cutting-edge treatments and highest quality care.","details":"Between 2018/19 and 2023/24, the Department of Health and Social Care, via the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) directly invested £11.8 million in research projects and programmes focused on brain tumours. NIHR’s wider investments in research infrastructure are estimated to be £37.5 million, supporting the delivery of 261 brain tumour research studies and enabling over 11,400 people to participate in potentially life-changing brain tumour research.\n\nHowever, we understand that more needs to be done to boost research into brain tumours. That is why we are working closely with the patient and researcher communities to stimulate high-quality research applications through:\n\n(i) establishing a national Brain Tumour Research Consortium to bring together researchers from different disciplines to drive scientific advancements in how to prevent, detect, manage and treat brain tumours\n\n(ii) a dedicated funding call for research into wraparound care and rehabilitation for people living with brain tumours\n\n(iii) a partnership with the Tessa Jowell Brain Cancer Mission to fund the next generation of researchers through the Allied Health Professionals Brain Tumour Research Fellowship programme.\n\nIn terms of access to Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS), in November 2020, the NHS became the first national health system in the world to offer WGS as part of routine care. All paediatric, teenage and adult patients with central nervous system/brain tumours are eligible for WGS as represented in the National Genomic Test Directory, which provides guidance on which patients may benefit from genomic testing, alongside the genomic targets to be tested and appropriate technology that should be used.\n\nGenomic testing in the NHS in England is provided through the NHS Genomic Medicine Service (NHS GMS). As outlined in the 10 Year Health Plan, the NHS GMS will work with industry, academia and other partners to generate evidence and models of adoption for genomic innovations in specific priority areas, such as cancer. This will inform commissioning decisions, accelerate adoption and ensure equity of access to genomic testing across England. Additionally, the NHS GMS will roll out a Unified Genomic Record to integrate patient genomic data with relevant clinical and diagnostic data, shorten genomic testing turnaround times, and work with industry to align testing with clinical trials targets and precision medicine access.\n\nRegarding new and personalised treatments, the government is committed to securing patient access to effective and innovative new medicines, including for brain tumours. There are established routes to support timely access for NHS patients to safe and clinically- and cost-effective new medicines and there are no plans to introduce a new Right to Try initiative for new treatments. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) evaluates all new medicines and makes recommendations for the NHS on whether they should be routinely funded by the NHS. NICE aims wherever possible to issue guidance on new medicines close to the point of licensing and our Life Sciences Sector Plan published in July sets out the measures we are taking to streamline decision making to accelerate patient access to new medicines by three to six months. The NHS in England is required to fund medicines recommended by NICE, and NHS England funds cancer medicines from the point of positive draft NICE guidance, accelerating patient access by around five months on average.\n\nAdditionally, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) Early Access to Medicines Scheme (EAMS) is one of the UK’s offerings of Early Access Programmes, where companies have a framework for providing promising treatments in development as unlicensed medicines to patients. The EAMS is designed to give patients with life-threatening or seriously debilitating conditions access to medicinal products that may be used for preventing, diagnosing or treating those conditions, but which are either not yet authorised or not authorised for that use. If there is a medicine in development that incorporates certain diagnostic techniques, they may be eligible for the scheme.\n\nIn terms of future publications, the National Cancer Plan, due to be published later this year, will have patients at its heart and will cover the entirety of the cancer pathway, from referral and diagnosis to treatment and aftercare. It will seek to improve every aspect of cancer care, to improve the experience and outcomes for people with cancer. Our goal is to reduce the number of lives lost to cancer over the next ten years, including for brain cancer.\n\nDepartment of Health and Social Care","created_at":"2025-10-03T10:55:37.022Z","updated_at":"2025-10-03T10:55:37.022Z"},"debate":{"debated_on":"2026-06-15","transcript_url":"https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2026-06-15/debates/EDB04B04-7B7A-428F-A73C-74AC24F23ADD/BrainCancer","video_url":"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XSYeMnixS1E","debate_pack_url":"https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/cbp-10486/","public_engagement_url":"","debate_summary_url":"","overview":""},"departments":[{"acronym":"DHSC","name":"Department of Health and Social Care","url":"https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-of-health-and-social-care"}],"topics":[]}},{"type":"petition","id":728751,"links":{"self":"https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/728751.json"},"attributes":{"action":"Review and fund improved detection and diagnosis of prostate cancer","background":"Require PSA blood tests to be proactively offered to men at highest risk of prostate cancer. Review emerging evidence from the TRANSFORM trial to inform a future national screening programme for prostate cancer. We believe this will make the health system fairer and reduce inequality.","additional_details":"Black men, men with a family history of prostate cancer, and men from socio-economically deprived areas are disproportionately impacted by prostate cancer. We believe that detecting and diagnosing prostate cancer is now safer and more accurate than ever. Prostate Cancer UK’s research suggests that harms of diagnosing prostate cancer have reduced by 79%. Yet it remains the second biggest cancer killer in men in the UK. We think it is time to review NHS guidelines on the PSA blood test and invest in an early detection programme.","committee_note":"","state":"closed","signature_count":14374,"created_at":"2025-05-28T06:36:51.489Z","updated_at":"2026-02-17T16:23:36.635Z","rejected_at":null,"opened_at":"2025-06-24T12:37:37.057Z","closed_at":"2025-12-24T23:59:59.999Z","moderation_threshold_reached_at":"2025-05-28T07:44:10.000Z","response_threshold_reached_at":"2025-08-23T12:37:40.000Z","government_response_at":"2025-09-12T15:09:21.780Z","debate_threshold_reached_at":null,"debate_scheduled_on":null,"scheduled_debate_date":null,"debate_outcome_at":null,"creator_name":null,"rejection":null,"government_response":{"responded_on":"2025-09-12","summary":"The Government has no current plans to require PSA blood tests to be proactively offered to men at highest risk of prostate cancer, because the evidence does not support this.","details":"The Department of Health and Social Care is committed to providing the best care possible for men and we are taking the risks and impact of prostate cancer seriously. We are guided by the independent scientific advice of the UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC), and it is only where the offer to screen provides more good than harm that a screening programme is recommended. The UK NSC makes its recommendations based on internationally recognised criteria and a rigorous evidence review and consultation process. It last reviewed the evidence for screening all men for prostate cancer in 2020 and concluded that the UK should not do so.\n\nWhilst it is recognised that the Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) test can be a valuable diagnostic tool in certain contexts, such as for men who present with symptoms, its limitations mean that it is not currently recommended for population-level screening, i.e. screening men with no symptoms.\n\nThis is because elevated PSA levels can be caused by non-cancerous conditions such as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), prostatitis, or recent physical activity. This results in high rates of false-positive results, leading to unnecessary anxiety, invasive biopsies, and potential overtreatment. For example, a diagnosis via a biopsy and treatment (prostatectomy and radiotherapy) carries risks of life-changing harm, such as urinary and faecal incontinence, sexual dysfunction, as well as a smaller but serious risk of sepsis. Additionally, some prostate cancers may not produce elevated PSA levels, leading to false-negative results that provide deceptive reassurance. For these reasons, the UK NSC currently considers that these potential risks outweigh the benefits of population screening.\n\nAs part of its commitment to keep its recommendations under review, the UK NSC has commissioned a new evidence review for prostate cancer screening. This covers modelling of the clinical effectiveness and cost of several approaches to prostate cancer screening. It includes different potential ways of screening the whole population, and targeted screening aimed at groups of people identified as being at higher-than-average risk, such as black men or men with a family history of cancer.\n\nThe modelling and evidence reports are now complete, and are being considered by the UK NSC and experts. Subject to no further revisions being required, the UK NSC plans to hold a public consultation towards the end of 2025. After this the UK NSC will make a recommendation. Ministers will then be asked to consider whether to accept the recommendation.\n\nIn the meantime, however, recognising the importance of developing a better test, the Government have invested £16 million in working with Prostate Cancer UK (PCUK) to launch their £42 million TRANSFORM trial, a nationwide study that will compare the most promising tests to look for prostate cancer. It will be the biggest trial in prostate cancer screening for 20 years. It has been developed in consultation, and with the backing of, the NHS, the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) and the Government. It will ensure that 1 in 10 of the participants invited to take part in the trial is a black man, in acknowledgment of the higher risk black men have of being diagnosed with prostate cancer.  \nThe UK NSC are engaged and working closely with TRANSFORM researchers and stand ready to receive findings as they become available. PCUK anticipate initial findings will be available in three years.\n\nThe Government agree that too many men are dying from prostate cancer. Any death from cancer is a tragedy, which is why this Government will publish a National Cancer Plan later this year. The Plan will have patients at its heart, with the goal to reduce the number of lives lost to cancer. The Government have been listening to and co-designing the Plan with members of the public, the health workforce, charities, academics and other partners. The Call for Evidence received over 11,000 responses. Officials at the Department of Health and Social Care are analysing those responses, to make sure every voice has been heard, to inform our Plan to improve cancer care.\n\nDepartment of Health and Social Care","created_at":"2025-09-12T15:09:21.777Z","updated_at":"2025-09-12T15:09:21.777Z"},"debate":null,"departments":[{"acronym":"DHSC","name":"Department of Health and Social Care","url":"https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-of-health-and-social-care"}],"topics":[]}},{"type":"petition","id":725909,"links":{"self":"https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/725909.json"},"attributes":{"action":"Lower bowel cancer screening age to 30 & funding for investigation of symptoms","background":"We call on the Government to lower the bowel cancer screening age to 30, and provide funding to ensure all patients with symptoms of bowel cancer are fully and quickly investigated, regardless of age, to help prevent further loss of life due to delayed diagnosis.","additional_details":"Bowel cancer is increasing in younger adults and we don't think the current approach reflects this. Early action could save lives.","committee_note":"","state":"closed","signature_count":12286,"created_at":"2025-04-24T08:55:28.959Z","updated_at":"2026-02-17T16:23:36.664Z","rejected_at":null,"opened_at":"2025-06-02T08:15:32.873Z","closed_at":"2025-12-02T23:59:59.999Z","moderation_threshold_reached_at":"2025-04-25T08:34:50.000Z","response_threshold_reached_at":"2025-07-25T06:59:50.000Z","government_response_at":"2025-08-01T15:50:00.244Z","debate_threshold_reached_at":null,"debate_scheduled_on":null,"scheduled_debate_date":null,"debate_outcome_at":null,"creator_name":null,"rejection":null,"government_response":{"responded_on":"2025-08-01","summary":"The Government has no plans to lower the bowel cancer screening age to 30. There is a lack of evidence that the benefits of doing so would outweigh the harms.","details":"The Government has no plans to lower the bowel cancer screening age to 30.\n\nIn the UK, new screening programmes and modifications to existing screening programmes are recommended by the UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC). The UK NSC is an independent scientific advisory committee which advises ministers and the NHS in all four UK nations on all aspects of population and targeted screening and supports implementation.\n\nIt is only where the offer to screen provides more good than harm that a screening programme is recommended. As screening programmes can also cause harms, each of the adult screening programmes has both an upper and lower age range, within which there is good scientific evidence that the benefits of screening outweigh the harms.\n\nThe UK NSC considers all the latest scientific evidence when reviewing the case for screening for different conditions. As the policy is based on the benefits and harms to whole populations, the screening decisions are based on the effect on the whole population, rather than individual circumstances. Where there is a lack of evidence, the UK NSC cannot be confident that screening would benefit the population as a whole. In these circumstances, the proportionate approach is to screen within the range that has evidence to back the policy.\n\nThe NHS bowel screening programme in England was recently extended from 60 to 74 years old to 50 to 74 years old, aligning with the evidence of where the screening programme can do the most good with the least harm caused.\n\nCurrently the evidence does not support lowering the age of bowel screening below 50. However, the UK NSC keeps these age brackets under review, and welcomes any new evidence which suggests the case for a new or modified screening programme via its annual call: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-nsc-annual-call-submitting-a-screening-proposal/uk-nsc-annual-call-how-to-submit-a-proposal\n\nA more sensitive threshold for the bowel screening faecal immunochemical test (FIT) of 80ug/gm, down from 120ug/gm, is being piloted, and if rolled out nationally could find 700 more colorectal cancers per year and 2,000 high risk polyps.\n\nWith regard to additional funding for investigation of symptoms of bowel cancer, we will get the NHS diagnosing cancer earlier and treating it faster so more patients survive, including those with bowel cancer. As the first step to ensure faster diagnosis and treatment, the NHS is delivering an extra 40,000 operations, scans, and appointments each week.\n\nWe are committed to transforming diagnostic services and will support the NHS to increase diagnostic capacity to meet the demand for diagnostic services through investment.\n\nNational Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) NG12 guidance recommends all patients with colorectal symptoms over the age of 18 (except those with an anal or rectal mass who should be referred urgently) should be offered a FIT10 test to identify those who are at high risk of colorectal cancer who should be referred on to a lower gastrointestinal (lower GI) Urgent Suspected Cancer (USC) pathway. Data from May 2025 shows that 78% of Lower GI USC referrals now have a FIT attached, demonstrating that the test is being used to identify all adults who would benefit from further investigation.\n\nThis intelligent use of FIT as a risk stratification tool in the cancer pathways has led to a significant national reduction in the number of Lower GI USC referrals, as now only those at risk of cancer are being referred. This policy change has not negatively impacted the number of cancers diagnosed and has created endoscopy capacity to extend the NHS Bowel Cancer Screening programme to those aged 50, down from 60.\n\nIn gastroenterology, we will develop an integrated pathway across primary, community and secondary care for common gastroenterology conditions. We will also drive the rapid adoption of remote monitoring in appropriate gastroenterology pathways, which reduces consultant-led outpatient appointments by over 50%. This will benefit patients being checked for gastroenterological conditions, including bowel cancer.\n\nThe NHS is delivering on steps to reduce waiting times for GI endoscopy services, including colonoscopy procedures. This includes the establishment of a national transformation project to recover GI endoscopy services, investment in an additional 80 dedicated endoscopy rooms to expand capacity, as well as a number of Community Diagnostic Centres offering endoscopy services.\n\nOur reforms to cancer care will see more than 100,000 people, including those with bowel cancer, getting diagnosed faster, and thousands more starting treatment within 2 months. We have already hit our target of delivering 2 million extra operations, scans, and appointments 7 months early.\n\nThrough the National Cancer Plan and ongoing reforms to cancer pathways, we remain focused on accelerating diagnosis, boosting survival rates, and reducing inequalities in outcomes for people affected by bowel cancer.\n\nDepartment of Health and Social Care","created_at":"2025-08-01T15:50:00.241Z","updated_at":"2025-08-01T15:50:00.241Z"},"debate":null,"departments":[{"acronym":"DHSC","name":"Department of Health and Social Care","url":"https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-of-health-and-social-care"}],"topics":[]}},{"type":"petition","id":700292,"links":{"self":"https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/700292.json"},"attributes":{"action":"Fund more CAR T Cell Therapy for eligible patients","background":"CAR T Cell therapy is currently allowed for some cancer patients on the NHS when other options have been unsuccessful. I think that people who are eligible should be offered it as a second line of treatment.","additional_details":"I was diagnosed with Primary Mediastianal Non Hodgkin Lymphoma in pregnancy when I was 23 years old. I had a cancer that was 90% curable with first line treatment (chemo & radio) after brutal failed treatments for 2 years, I was finally eligible for Car T Cell therapy, which was so much easier on my body and got me into remission in 90 days. I believe if you fail chemotherapy & radiotherapy and are eligible for CAR-T, you should be allowed it next. Not put on trials and more toxic drugs.\r\n","committee_note":"","state":"closed","signature_count":11234,"created_at":"2024-11-01T13:27:58.910Z","updated_at":"2026-02-17T16:23:36.690Z","rejected_at":null,"opened_at":"2024-11-28T14:46:52.541Z","closed_at":"2025-05-28T22:59:59.999Z","moderation_threshold_reached_at":"2024-11-01T13:48:00.000Z","response_threshold_reached_at":"2025-03-11T21:38:40.000Z","government_response_at":"2025-03-24T11:46:18.365Z","debate_threshold_reached_at":null,"debate_scheduled_on":null,"scheduled_debate_date":null,"debate_outcome_at":null,"creator_name":null,"rejection":null,"government_response":{"responded_on":"2025-03-24","summary":"The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has recommended CAR-T therapies for patients with lymphoma, which are now available to NHS patients in line with NICE’s recommendations.","details":"Improving access to all types of cancer treatment is a key priority for this Government. We published the England Rare Diseases Action Plan 2025 in February 2025, with actions to enable improved and more efficient care for people with rare conditions, support rare disease clinical research trials, and to prepare the NHS to deliver groundbreaking, personalised therapies. \n\nThe UK is a global leader in the development of advanced therapies, with a strong academic and life science industry, and was the first national health system in Europe to commission chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T cell) therapy for blood cancer patients. \n\nIn April 2023, the NHS announced the roll out of personalised CAR-T therapies, offering three different CAR-T therapies for six different indications, benefitting adults and children with a range of cancers, with one of the CAR-T drugs available after just one therapy, providing quicker access for patients. \n\nNHS England has been working with stakeholders and the life sciences companies to get centres up and running to deliver CAR-T cell therapy. Three centres have been set up for paediatric patients in London, Manchester and Newcastle, and there are 20 centres set up across England that will be able to provide CAR-T for young people up to the age of 25 years old, and adults. \n\nCAR-T therapy is specifically developed for each individual patient and involves reprogramming the patient’s own immune system cells. These cells are then re-introduced to the patient to target their cancer. It is important to understand CAR-T cell therapy is a highly complex and potentially risky treatment, but it has been shown in trials to cure some patients, even those with quite advanced cancers and where other available treatments have failed.\n\nWe are pleased to learn that you were eligible for CAR-T cell therapy and are now in remission after successful treatment. However, I recognise the difficult journey you went through with failed treatments before receiving your treatment. The decision on which patients are eligible is decided by a national panel of expert clinicians following a referral from a specialist doctor, and in your case this process was followed that verified your eligibility as per recommendation. \n\nTo understand better why some therapies fail, a new research programme was launched last year, involving scientists from London and funded by £9 million from the Medical Research Council and the Office for Life Sciences, and £12.9 million from industry partners. The programme will involve thousands of patients treated with immunotherapy, which CAR-T is a form of, from across the UK and is aiming to discover why at least half of all patients fail to respond to immunotherapy, suffer side effects and to evaluate the barriers to the success of immunotherapy.\n\nIn the UK, medicines need to have a licence before they can be marketed, granted by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency. To get a licence, the manufacturer of the medicine has to provide evidence which shows that the medicine is safe and effective enough to be used for a specific condition and for a specific group of patients, and that they can manufacture the medicine to the required quality.\n\nOnce licensed, new medicines can then be appraised by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). NICE is the body responsible for developing independent, evidence-based guidance for the NHS on whether medicines should be routinely funded based on an assessment of their costs and benefits. NICE only makes recommendations on medicines within their remit and NHS England is required to fund NICE-recommended medicines. \n\nThe Cancer Drugs Fund provides early access for NHS patients to effective cancer drugs recommended by NICE. Further evidence is then collected on the drug through the Cancer Drugs Fund for a defined period of time. This helps NICE decide whether the drug can be recommended for routine NHS funding.  \n\nNICE has evaluated and recommended several CAR-T therapies for use within the Cancer Drugs Fund for the treatment of various cancers, including for large B-cell lymphoma, B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia and mantle cell lymphoma, which are now available to NHS patients in line with NICE’s recommendations. \n\nThe Government is committed to improving diagnosis and treatment for all cancer patients. That’s why we will develop our new National Cancer Plan, which will include further details on how we will improve treatment and outcomes for cancer patients. We encourage you to engage with our call for evidence, where we’re seeking views from individuals, professionals and organisations to inform the development of the plan. This call for evidence closes at 11:59pm on 29 April 2025.\n\nDepartment of Health and Social Care","created_at":"2025-03-24T11:46:18.362Z","updated_at":"2025-03-24T11:46:18.362Z"},"debate":null,"departments":[{"acronym":"DHSC","name":"Department of Health and Social Care","url":"https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-of-health-and-social-care"}],"topics":[]}}]}