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UK cancer mortality statistics for common cancers

More than one in four (27%) of all deaths in the UK are caused by cancer. There were 154,162 cancer deaths in the UK in 2006 (Table 1.1). 1-3

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Deaths from cancers of the lung, bowel, breast and prostate together account for 47% of all cancer deaths. The 20 most common causes of death from cancer are shown in Figure 1.1.

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Nearly one in four (24%) of all cancer deaths are from lung cancer. 1-3 Colorectal cancer was the second most common cause of cancer death (10%) and, despite being extremely rare in men, breast cancer was the third most common cause of cancer death in all persons (8%).

Cancer was responsible for 27% of all deaths in the UK in 2005 - 29% for males and 25% for females. 1-3

Cigarette smoking has been identified as the single most important cause of preventable death in the UK. Overall, one third of all deaths from cancer, including around 80% of lung cancer deaths, are linked to tobacco smoking.

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References

1. Office for National Statistics, Mortality Statistics: Cause England & Wales, 2006. Vol. DH2 No.32. 2006: TSO.
2. GRO for Scotland Registrar General's Annual Report, 2006.
3. Northern Ireland Cancer Registry Cancer Mortality in Northern Ireland, 2006 2006

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