CANCER screening will be done in shopping centres and football stadiums in a bid to cut the numbers dying from the disease.
The move was announced by Health Secretary Sajid Javid as part of a 10 year “national war on cancer” to get patients diagnosed early.
Mr Javid said there are about 166,00 cancer deaths annually in the UK with a person diagnosed every 90 seconds in the UK.
In a bid to reduce that “daunting statistic” he said he wanted to boost prevention efforts with programmes to cut smoking, obesity rates and alcohol consumption.
And said the NHS could potentially turn up to community diagnostic centres and where people can ask for scans on the spot.
Mr Javid said that while some centres could be attached to hospitals, others will be set up in shopping centres and football stadiums.
“Things that people might go to for other purposes but the key is to have something as accessible as possible,” he said.
Half of all Brits will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime.
Ministers also want to harness scientific advances, such as artificial intelligence and mRNA vaccines.
But despite improvements in survival over recent decades, experts fear progress has stalled because of the pandemic.
The NHS faces a mammoth backlog of cases, with nearly 50,000 fewer referrals than expected since the Covid crisis.
“Let this be the day where we declare a national war on cancer,” said Mr Javid.
He said: “We have published the call for evidence for a new ten-year Cancer Plan for England, a searching new vision for how we will lead the world in cancer care.
“This plan will show how we are learning the lessons from the pandemic, and apply them to improving cancer services.
“It will take a far-reaching look at how we want cancer care to be ten years from now, looking at all stages, from prevention, to diagnosis, to treatment and vaccines.”
Speaking at an event to mark World Cancer day health secretary also recalled his own pain at losing his dad to colon cancer, which spread to other parts of his body, including his lungs.
“I lost my dad to this vicious disease, and I know all too well the grief and the heartbreak that this brings,” he said.
“This painful experience also pressed upon me that when it comes to cancer, there isn’t a moment to spare.
“Who knows? If he had been diagnosed a bit earlier, he may still be with us today.”
