More than 1,000 people are being diagnosed with cancer each day in England as detection rates reach record highs.

But cancer charities have warned that while new figures show that the NHS is identifying more cases, it is still failing to meet its targets on diagnosis and treatment.

Data published by the NHS on Thursday showed there were 373,574 new cancer diagnoses in 2024, which is 11,833 more than in 2023, and represents an average of 1,021 new cancer diagnoses a day. It is the first time diagnoses have surpassed 1,000 a day, the NHS said.

Prostate cancer remains the most common cancer, with diagnoses increasing by 4.1 per cent to 61,115 in 2024, and making up around 167 diagnoses a day.

NHS figures last month showed that 78.6 per cent of people were diagnosed or had cancer ruled out within 28 days of an urgent referral in August 2026, which is below the target of 80 per cent.

The NHS has failed to reach its cancer treatment target since 2015 (Getty Images)

Meanwhile, its target for at least 85 per…