Common cancers - UK mortality statistics

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 156,723 cancer deaths in the UK in 2008 ( 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 2008 - 30% 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