NHS figures reveal that the proportion of cancer diagnoses at an early stage in England has reached a record high, with 58.7% of patients identified at stages one and two. This marks a 2.7 percentage point increase since before the pandemic, attributed to public awareness campaigns and new screening methods. However, NHS targets for rapid treatment initiation remain unmet, with one in three patients waiting over 62 days for treatment. Dame Cally Palmer emphasizes the importance of early detection while acknowledging the need for continued improvements.