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Our goals

Scientist using a microscope Introduction to our goals

In May 2007 we launched ten goals that will shape our work over the next decade and beyond.

To achieve these goals, we form partnerships with other charities and medical research organisations, as well as professional and public health bodies, pharmaceutical companies, the Government and our supporters – whose dedication is essential to our progress.


We are working with our partners to achieve the following goals by 2020:

Cancer Research UK has developed ten goals to measure our success over the coming years in beating cancer. We will work with our partners to achieve the following by 2020:

  1. People will know how to reduce their risk of cancer – Three-quarters of the UK public will be aware of the main lifestyle choices they can make to reduce their risk of getting cancer
  2. The number of smokers will fall dramatically – Four million fewer adults will be smokers, preventing thousands of new cases of cancer every year
  3. People under 75 will be less likely to get cancer – The chances of a person developing cancer up to the age of 75 will fall from more than one in four to one in five
  4. Cancer will be diagnosed earlier – Two-thirds of all cancer cases will be diagnosed at a stage when the cancer can be successfully treated
  5. We will understand how cancer starts and develops – We will have a detailed understanding of the causes and changes in the body in two-thirds of all cases of cancer
  6. There will be better treatments with fewer side effects – Treatments that accurately target the cancer and have few serious side effects will be available for at least half of all patients
  7. More people will survive cancer – Survival rates for all common cancers will increase, with more than two-thirds of newly-diagnosed patients living for at least five years
  8. We will especially tackle cancer in low income communities – The differences in the risk of dying from cancer between the most affluent and the least affluent will be reduced by half
  9. People with cancer will get the information they need – At least nine out of ten patients will be able to access the information they need at the time of diagnosis and during treatment
  10. We will continue to fight cancer beyond 2020 – Sufficient scientists, doctors, nurses and infrastructure will be in place to ensure continued rapid progress in the fight against cancer beyond 2020