Cancer52 is a national organisation which has been in existence since 2007 and was registered as a charity in England and Wales in September 2017.  It acts as a membership body for charitable and not-for-profit organisations working in the field of rare and less common cancers. We currently represent nearly 100 predominantly small patient support group cancer charities united by their vision of seeing a better future for everyone affected by the rare and less common cancers, which account for more than half of all cancer deaths in the UK.

We aim to promote improved diagnosis, treatment and support for those affected by rare and less common cancers. Cancer52 works on matters that impact on the rare and less common cancer community – defined as all cancers outside the ‘big four’ of breast, prostate, lung and bowel. Current data shows that 46% of cancers diagnosed are rare and less common cancers, yet they account for 54% of cancer deaths.

Our vision is an ending to the inequality in diagnosis, treatment and patient experience outcomes for those with a rare or less common cancer compared with the four most common cancers of breast, bowel, lung and prostate.

Our mission is to provide a strong, unified voice for rare and less common cancer organisations by representing, speaking, informing, sharing and involving our members in our work to end the disadvantages in diagnosis, treatment and mortality outcomes experienced by people with rare and less common cancers compared with the four most common cancers of breast, bowel, lung and prostate.