Billboard by NHS promoting awareness of heartburn, advising individuals experiencing symptoms for three weeks or more to consult a doctor, set against an urban backdrop.

We’re really proud to share some fantastic news on early cancer diagnosis in Greater Manchester.

For the first time ever, more than 60% (60.2%) of cancers in Greater Manchester were diagnosed at an early stage over a 12-month rolling period (February 2024 – January 2025), placing us:

  • Above the England average
  • 9th out of 20 Cancer Alliances nationally
  • 1st in the North West region

Greater Manchester improved by 6.2% compared to a 3.7% increase across England. Some of the biggest local gains were seen in lung cancer (16.39%), melanoma (13.14%), prostate cancer (4.67%) and gynaecological cancers (3.27%).

Ali Jones, Director of Early Diagnosis and Commissioning, said: “In 2019, we ranked 15th-17th out of 20. The progress we’ve made since then is not just remarkable, it’s life-saving. It demonstrates the power of a system-wide approach to cancer diagnosis and the vital role Cancer Alliances can play in delivering real change. A huge thank you to everyone across the system for their efforts in achieving this, from public health campaigns and targeted primary care education to improvements across diagnostic and treatment pathways.”

You can read our early diagnosis strategy via the GM Cancer website: https://gmcancer.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/2334-Early-diagnosis-strategy-5a-Digital.pdf