DATA
Data is currency
No British Asian data means clinical bankruptcy for British Asians
Why ethnicity data in cancer matters
If British Asian ethnicity is missing in NHS cancer records, Asian people are invisible in cancer prevention, access, diagnosis, research and new treatments. Care is less tailored and outcomes are poorer. The resultant factor is either a reduced quality and/or length of life - meaning British Asians live less well with cancer and die sooner than other people.
| Category | Englands Population in millions |
Englands Population in percentage |
People in NHSE 2022 cancer data set in millions |
People in NHSE 2022 cancer data set in percentage |
| Total | 57.106 million | 100 % | 1.599259 million | 100 % |
| White | 46.26 million | 81 % | 1.361755 million | 85.15 % |
| Asian | 5.54 million | 9.7 % | 0.054751 million | 3.42 % |
| Most Deprived (Quintile 1 of the Index of Multiple Deprivation) |
11.538 million | 20.20 % | 0.247704 million | 15.49 % |
Top 3 high impact NHS-asks
Data is power
From powerless to powerful
Why this matters now
• Record ethnicity to trigger reflex Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor testing for Asian never-smokers.
• Ensure complete, standardised ethnicity capture across all cancer systems.
• Guarantee access to NHS Genomic Medicine Service tumour testing; cut “uncertain” results.
• Build Early Access to Medicines Scheme and Cancer Drugs Fund checks into Multidisciplinary Team decisions.
• Use ethnicity plus biomarkers to personalise targeted therapies and immunotherapy.
• Site Rapid Diagnostic and Community Diagnostic Centres where Asian need is highest.
• Close screening and urgent suspected cancer referral gaps with translated outreach.
• Provide interpreters; translate consent and results to prevent missed follow-up.
• Audit two-week-wait, diagnostic intervals and treatment start by ethnicity; fix delays.
• Extend lung panels (EGFR, ALK, ROS1, MET exon 14, RET) with rapid turnaround.
• Offer germline testing and cascade to families through the NHS Genomic Medicine Service.
• Embed ethnicity in trial pre-screening and routinely invite British Asian participants.
...plus much more
#MyResearchLegacy
from me to you
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#MyResearchLegacy is about saying yes to research so the next patient benefits, and so might you.
Everyone in England is welcome: patients and the public, NHS colleagues, private sector partners and community groups, across all ethnicities and social backgrounds. We will be in touch soon with simple ways to take part and make a lasting impact.
