The NHS cancer plan promises action on: preventive work to reduce risk; earlier detection; improved community support for sufferers; faster access to treatment; national standards of treatment; improved palliative care; and a strengthened research base.

Performance targets include a maximum one-month wait:
• from urgent GP referral to treatment for children's and testicular cancers and acute leukaemia by 2001
• from diagnosis to treatment for breast cancer by 2001
• from diagnosis to treatment for all cancers by 2005

There will be a maximum two-month wait:

• from urgent GP referral to treatment for breast cancer by 2002
• from urgent GP referral to treatment for all cancers by 2005

Other new measures include:

• a target to reduce smoking rates among manual workers from 32% in 1998 to 26% by 2010
• £50m more investment and additional Lottery cash for palliative care and hospices