UK cancer mortality statistics for common cancers

This page presents mortality statistics for all cancers combined and the most common cancers diagnosed in the UK.

One in four (27%) of all deaths in the UK are caused by cancer. There were 155,484 cancer deaths in the UK in 2007 ( Table 1.1). 1-3

Number of deaths and mortality rates of all malignant neoplasms in the UK

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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.

The 20 most common causes of death from cancer in the UK

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More than 1 in 5 (22%) 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 2007 - 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, more than a quarter of all deaths from cancer, including an estimated 90% of lung cancer deaths, are linked to tobacco smoking. 4

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References

  1.  Office for National Statistics,2009 Mortality Statistics: Deaths registered in England & Wales, 2007.
  2.  General Register Office for Scotland, 2009 Deaths Time Series Data, 1997-2007.
  3.  Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency Registrar General Annual Report 2007 2009
  4.  Peto, R., Lopez, A.D., et al Mortality from Smoking in Developed Countries 1950-2000, second edition p498, June 2006