This article explores the phenomenon of ‘waiting’. It looks in particular at the effect of waiting times on patients who are undergoing chemotherapy and suggests that capacity and demand techniques have the potential to improve cancer services greatly. It suggests that an exploration of recent and older policy developments in the health service, such as the NHS Cancer Plan and the Calman-Hine report, provides the grounding for the changes that are needed. The author says that some of the responsibility for instigating change lies with nurses and that unless opportunities are taken, targets for improving cancer services will be missed.